Prof Paul Mealor LVO CStJ

Artistic Director

Paul Mealor (b. 1975) is one of the world’s most ‘performed’ living composers and has composed music for some of the most important UK state, national and Royal occasions of the last ten years, including the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales (2011), King Charles’s 65th, 70th and 75th birthdays, two works for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s national Services of Thanksgiving (2022), two works for the Coronation (2023) – including the first ever setting of the Welsh Language at a Coronation, and three works for The Honours of Scotland Service (2023).

He has also written music for film and television including the score to the BAFTA-Award winning ‘Wonders of the Celtic Deep’, three operas, four symphonies, concerti, chamber music, much choral music and songs, including the 2011 Christmas No 1, ‘Wherever You Are’ for Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir.

He has received many awards and honours for his work including honorary degrees, fellowships and in January 2024 was appointed to The Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by HM King Charles III for his outstanding contribution to Royal Music. He is the first composer to receive this accolade since Sir Arthur Bliss in 1969 and before him, Sir Arnold Bax and Sir Edward Elgar.