Nigel James Brooks (24 December 1926 – 2 March 2024) was an English composer, arranger and conductor.

Biography

Nigel James Brooks was born in

Barnstaple Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town in North Devon, England, at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool and won great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, bu ...

on 24 December 1926. He spent most of his childhood in Ilfracombe,

North Devon North Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. North Devon Council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth ...

. He attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. For much of his career he was an orchestral arranger, particularly for the BBC and also conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra. He formed his own musical ensemble "The Nigel Brooks Singers" which appeared on '' Friday Night is Music Night'' and earned three gold discs, and two silver. Brooks wrote three ballets for Sadler's Wells (''Barnstaple Fair'', ''Seven Cameos for Combe'' and '' The Water Babies''), and an opera based on Daphne du Maurier's novel '' Jamaica Inn''. He was married to Jean, whose death was commemorated by his adagio for strings ''To My Love''.
English Music for Strings
', Chamber Ensemble of London, Campion Cameo LC03062 (2006) As part of the

2022 Birthday Honours The 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as par ...

, Brooks was awarded the

British Empire Medal The British Empire Medal (BEM; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. The current honour was created in 1922 to ...

(BEM) for services to musical theatre and the music industry. Brooks died at his home in Barnstaple, on 2 March 2024, at the age of 97.Nigel James B.E.M. Brooks
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References

External Links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Nigel 1926 births 2024 deaths Musicians from Barnstaple English composers English conductors (music) English male conductors (music) 21st-century British conductors (music) 21st-century English male musicians Recipients of the British Empire Medal