Jon Nicholls music and sound design

07867 663137

Sector: Music & Sound

Key Skills

music, sound, audio, composer, orchestration

Key Clients

Sky, BBC TV, BBC Radio, Channel 4, ITV, independent film-makers (Shooting People / Talent Circle) and national-profile theatre companies inlcuding National Theatre, RSC & Birmingham Rep.

‘Thank you for two marvellous scores’ (Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director, National Theatre)

‘Terrific to work with such a professional’ (Steve Anderson, Creative Director, Mentorn Television)

‘Jon really understands how radio works…he works quickly, he is great ton work with and his music’s fantastic’ (Jeremy Mortimer, Executive Producer, BBC Radio Drama)

“ If you need bespoke music composed and delivered at a great price, fast and that always fits the bill, then Jon is the composer for you. I have used his work in several BBC radio dramas and productions, as well as in commercial audiobook productions. Each and every time I have not just received incredibly vibrant and majestic music that fit perfectly with the project, but a personable, professional and flexible approach from Jon himself. Nothing is too much to ask, no timeline is impossible, and there is simply no style or form of music he can’t deliver. And this is no midi-based, synth library music…we’re talking full-on, real instruments with actual musicians. His work is a real treat for the ears, and his approach to working with us and our production teams is as a partner and friend. I cannot recommend Jon highly enough. Use him once, and you’ll be using him forever!” (Neil Gardner, Director, Ladbroke Radio)

I’m a Prix Italia-nominated composer and sound designer with over ten years’ experience of composing music and sound scores for drama and documentary on TV, radio, film and in the theatre, with a substantial track record of commissions from national broadcasters and theatre companies. My work draws on a huge range of eclectic influences, ranging in style from sweeping orchestral music, gamelan and urban ambiences to lyrical themes, organic soundscapes and cutting-edge electroacoustics.

My work’s been heard extensively on BBC TV, BBC Radio 3 & 4, Sky, Channel 4 and ITV, and at theatres around the UK including the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Crucible, Derby Playhouse and Northampton Royal.

I work from my own broadcast-standard studio (Logic / Pro Tools), delivering nationally / internationally by ftp.

CV

radio drama

• It’s Better With Animals (BBC Radio 4, Afternoon Play)
• Caesar Price Our Lord (BBC Radio 4, Afternoon Play)
• The Time Machine (BBC Radio 3, Drama on 3)
• The Researches of Herodotus (BBC Radio 3, Drama on 3)
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (BBC Radio 3, Drama on 3)
• The Quest (BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour Serial)
• Faust (BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour serial)
• What I Heard About Iraq (BBC Radio 4, Friday Play)
• Babel’s Tower (BBC Radio 3, Drama on 3)
• Between Friends (BBC Radio 4, Friday Play)

tv

• Small Pain for Glory (BBC / WGBH ‘Storyville’)
• The Real Full Monty (Mentorn / Sky1)
• Real Crime: The Hunt for Mr Swirl (Mentorn / ITV)
• Cutting Edge: Chasing the Cumbria Killer (Mentorn / Channel 4)
• Cutting Edge: The Jaycee Lee Story (Mentorn / Channel 4)
• Cutting Edge: Secrets of the Austrian Cellar(Blakeway / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Old Age (Blakeway / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Heat Or Eat (Blakeway / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Iraq’s Lost Generation (Hard Cash Productions /Channel 4)
• Dispatches: The Human Cost of the Credit Crunch (Blakeway / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Lost in Care (1st Frame TV / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Why Kids Kill (1st Frame TV / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Britain’s Mental Health Scandal (1st Frame TV / Channel 4
• Dispatches: Spiked (1st Frame TV for Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Sex on the Streets (1st Frame TV / Channel 4)
• Dispatches: Undercover Teacher (Chameleon TV / Channel 4)
• Voyeur (Making Time TV / Channel 5)
• Women Facing War (Urban Films / Channel 4)
• Secret Asia: Nuclear Ginza (Small World Media / Channel 4)

short film

• Seams (Savill Productions)
• Little Boy Blues (Suscito Films)
• Every Little Thing (ELT Films)
• Duty Calls (Ultimatum Films)
• Pecatum Parvum (Royal College of Art)
• Man on the Clapham Omnibus (Avenging Pictures)
• Speed Date (Smoorns Films)
• Prodigal (Smoorns Films)
• Shore (Smoorns Films)
• Lena (Lisa Hallatt)
• The Havamal (Peter Smith)
• My Constant Companion (Bracha Broder)
• Karain (Jason Wulfsohn)
• Kushe (Eva Palacios)
• The Hurlers (Rebecca Foxall)

theatre

Over 250 productions with leading theatre companies including National Theatre, RSC, Sheffield Crucible, Birmingham Rep, Northampton Theatre Royal, Derby Playhouse, Theatr Clwyd

training

Dartington College (electroacoustic music / sound design) 1995
London College of Music (Mmus composing for film and tv: distinction) 1994-95
Cambridge University (English) 1990-93

comments / press

‘..thanks so much for the music. It was excellent, as usual…you consistently deliver exactly the right tone. Writing for current affairs really is a skill – and you always pull it off.’’
(Lynn Ferguson, producer, Channel 4 ‘’Dispatches’’)

‘…Jon Nicholls’ haunting widescreen score…’ (Time Out on Red Shift Theatre Co, ‘Vertigo’)

‘…fantastic use of soundtrack..amazing sound design…’ (BBC Radio 4, ‘Front Row on Red Shift Theatre Co, ‘Get Carter’)

‘…this production would disgrace neither the National nor the RSC…quality is the word for this stunning production…Jon Nicholls’ finely understated score…a sure-fire hit…’ (The Independent on Derby Playhouse, ‘Amadeus’)

07867 663137