Nick Martin (b. 1989, UK) is a composer based in Copenhagen, where he has lived since 2009, having previously lived and worked in Helsinki. His works range from solo pieces and chamber music to large-scale choral works and a violin concerto. Several pieces set poetry and prose by Woolf, Södergran, Akhmatova, Sappho and Rilke; others respond to visual art — Hepworth, Heron, Riley; a substantial body of work concerns itself with family, particularly the mother/child relationship.

Recent works: Martin’s violin concerto Maternal, written for Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Manchester Camerata, received its world premiere in September 2025, with performances at Kings Place London, The Whitworth Manchester and The Hepworth Wakefield. Morendo for string sextet received its world premiere at Koncertkirken, Copenhagen in February 2026. Vocalise for solo cello and tape, commissioned by Clare O’Connell, was premiered at Kings Place in May 2025 and released on NMC Recordings. Upcoming world premieres include Diluendo for solo electric guitar and tape (Francesco Rista, Harpa Reykjavík), Daughter for solo marimba (Katerina Anagnostidou) and ‘Ingenting’ for mezzo soprano and string trio (Hehku Ensemble), scheduled 2026–2027.

Current projects: Martin is currently writing a new work for accordionist Bjarke Mogensen and the string section of Odense Symphony Orchestra.

Commissions: Martin has received commissions from Ensemble Intercontemporain, Manchester Camerata, the Nordic String Quartet and Clare O’Connell. Further commissions have come from the Copenhagen Girls’ Choir (Sankt Annæ Pigekor), Catalina Vicens and Servir Antico, and the Esbjerg Ensemble.

Performances: His music has been performed at Carnegie Hall, The Barbican, Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, Koerner Hall (Toronto), Harpa (Reykjavík) and DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen. Ensembles and soloists performing his work include Copenhagen Phil, Concerto Copenhagen, Manchester Camerata, The Marian Consort, Ensemble Intercontemporain, the Solem Quartet, the Nordic String Quartet, Bjarke Mogensen, Clare O’Connell, Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Daniel Pioro.

Prizes and funding: Martin is the recipient of the 2023 Pelle Prize, awarded in honour of the late Danish composer Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen. He has received grants from the Danish Arts Council, KODA, Art Music Denmark, Culture Moves Europe and the Francis Routh Trust.

Discography: Martin released the album Terroir under his ensemble project Blue Luminaire onBella Union in 2022. Further releases appear on NMC Recordings (Vocalise, performed by Clare O’Connell), Orchid Classics (Mother of Sorrows, performed by Bjarke Mogensen), Dacapo Records (Bittersweet, performed by Trio Kimi) and Platoon.

Radio: His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Danish Radio P2, Deutschlandradio Kultur and ABC Classic.

Reviews: His music has been reviewed in The Guardian (Andrew Clements), The Strad (David Kettle), Seismograf (Andrew Mellor), Louder Than War, Higher Plain Music and KLASSISK (★★★★★).