Jasper Dommett (b. 1997) is an accomplished British composer studying a PhD at the Royal College of Music as the Mendelssohn Scholar.
Jasper's music has been performed by soloists and ensembles such as BBC National Orchestra of Wales,Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Riot Ensemble, Berkeley Ensemble , Fenella Humphreys, George Fu, and Tabea Debus, with performances at Kings Place, Usher Hall, St Davids Hall, Hallé St Peters, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Dora Stoutzker Hall & BBC Hoddinott Hall.
Jasper has a flair for creating “intense orchestral landscapes" with “crystalline gestures” and “languid lyricism” (The Scotsman). Their work Night Music, written for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, was the start of this fascination, leading to nominations for an Ivor Novello Award in the Large Orchestral Category, a shortlisting in the inaugural Michael Tippet Medal for Music, and the awarding of Paul Mealor Award for Student Composers provided by the Welsh Music Guild.
2021 saw the sell-out premiere of Jasper’s first opera, Coram Boy, based on Helen Edmundson’s theatrical adaptation of Jamila Gavin’s highly acclaimed novel, an experience which has left them excited about new possibilities for the art form. Looking ahead to 2024, Jasper is set to debut a new opera, Fanny & Stella’s Last Day Out, in collaboration with librettist Jessica Walker for the Tète-a-tète festival.
At present, Jasper is actively collaborating with two esteemed musical ensembles. Their work with the London Philharmonic Orchestra involves the creation of a new work for dance exploring themes of identity and microtonality, due for premiere in the summer of 2024. Additionally, Jasper is currently participating in the Royal Philharmonic Society's composers scheme, where they are collaborating closely with Lotte Betts-Dean and the Hebrides Ensemble on an new work for 2025.
Their work, Dreams of Isolation, written for Sir Andrew Davies and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra was a deeper dive into the power of the orchestra. Described as “unique and original” (Sir Andrew Davis) the piece is a reflection on the transformative force of dreams with “haunting textures” and “impressive melodic writing” (The Art’s Desk).
In 2023, Jasper received a nomination for their second Ivor Novello Award, recognised for their piece Disco! Disco! Good! Good?. This work, written and workshopped for Aaron Holloway Nahum and the Riot Ensemble, pays tribute to the queer ballroom culture that emerged during the disco era, which created safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals to express themselves through dance and fashion.
