Biography

Libby Croad is a composer, arranger and violinist based in London.

She studied violin and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, where she developed her love of choral, piano and string writing.

Libby’s choral music is popular with choirs and audiences alike and her new versions of traditional Christmas carols have been particularly well received. Most recently her new setting of the carol The First Noel was performed by Sonoro Choir in London, December 2023.

Her carol Christmas Eve set to a wonderful text by Christina Rossetti, was performed by the BBC Singers on BBC Radio 3 in December 2022 in a concert of contemporary carols.

Libby’s setting of Silent Night was premiered by The New London Singers, directed by Ivor Setterfield, in 2016. Since then, it has been performed many times by the Choir of Girton College, Cambridge and their rendition was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2019 directed by Gareth Wilson. The BBC Singers performed Silent Night on BBC Radio 3 in December 2020 as part of the afternoon concert presented by Petroc Trelawny and a recording was released on Priory Records with the Choir of All Saints’ Church, directed by Patrick Allies. Libby’s Silent Night has been published by Multitude of Voyces in a new Anthology of Sacred Music by women composers and the anthology can be purchased here.

Libby’s string music is highly acclaimed, and has been performed by some of the UK’s best professional orchestras and ensembles around the world. Her Suite for String Orchestra was performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2023, and the London Mozart Players in November 2023. The suite has also had an Australian premiere in November 2023, and performances in the US including New York, Virginia, Massachusetts and Montana, expanding her international status. The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra performed and recorded the suite and it was broadcast on Classic FM presented by John Suchet in January 2021. The first movement, Strati was also broadcast on BBC Radio 3 for International Women’s Day in 2018.

In July 2022 Docklands Sinfonia performed the premiere of her work Portraits for String Orchestra, a work made up of five movements with poetry to describe the feelings and emotions over the pandemic.

Libby has also composed an impressive catalogue of chamber and solo music, including a set of 4 pieces for piano trio based on the elements, Aqua, Ignis, Terra, Zephyr which have been broadcast on RTE Lyric FM and BBC Radio 3, performed and recorded by City Soloists (available for purchase in Store).

The Suffragette Sonata, a sonata for solo viola, was commissioned and performed by international soloist Beth McNinch and broadcast on RTE Lyric FM. The sonata was also made in to a film with dancer Ali Clarke and it was chosen to be screened at the the Wicklow Screen Dance Laboratory in 2023.

Ode is a piece written for violin and cello duo, recorded by Emma Blanco, violin and Sarah Huson-Whyte, cello. It was commissioned by Emma in memory of her brother Mark. A video of Ode is available to view on the Audio/Visual page and audio and sheet music can be purchased in Store, featured on Channel 4.

A video of Essence for solo violin was premiered on Classic FM online performed by Anna Croad in 2021.

Appassionata for piano trio, Suite for 3 violins, Cello Canon (for 5 cellos), and Circles for violin and piano are among her other chamber works.

Most recently Libby was commissioned by the Queen Victoria’s Consort to write a piece for brass quintet on 19th century period instruments called Recognition, inspired by the works of Fanny Mendelssohn (video in Audio/Visual page). Also a commission from Music For Everyone in Nottinghamshire for choir and symphonic brass called Hail Bright Cecilia premiered in 2023.

Current projects include a new violin and voice sonata, and music for a new play in Ireland due for premiere in 2025.

Libby has composed original scores for film and television production, with albums released for Felt Music and Deep East Music and BMG production. She is also one of the founding directors of Blue Topaz Music. 

To contact Libby about her work or new commissions, click here.