“epic”
The Guardian
“striking”
The Wire
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Not Getting Any
Alternative Orchestral EP
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Memo.
Voice Memo Mini-Album
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Anthem
Orchestral / Rock - NMC Recordings
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Crazy Stereo Systems (and Subway Love)
Trio - New Woods Collective
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Microgynon 30
Electronic / Vocal - nonclassical
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Ruminant
Viola Monologue - NMC Recordings
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SKIN
Short Film / Score
Works
To request sample scores/recordings, programme a performance, commission a new work or discuss a new arrangement of an existing work, please get in touch.
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NOT GETTING ANY
2024 - orchestra - 4’THE MEZZANINE STAIR NAIL
2023 - orchestra - 5’ANTHEM
2022 - orchestra, electric guitar(s) and voice - 8’WHEN THE GUT SCREAMS NO
2020 - ensemble (2pic, bcl, altsax, barsax, hn, tpt, 2tbn, tba, per, mezzsop, pno, egtr, ebass) - 4’LACTIC ACID
2018 - ensemble (pic, fl, 2cl, altsax, barsax, 2hn, 2tpt, 2tbn, tba, 2per, egtr, ebass, pno, synth, acc, sop, 4vln, 2vla, 2vc, cb) - 4’NOSFERATU’S ROSEBUD
2017 - ensemble (tenrec, bcl, altsax, tbn, per, pno, egtr, vln, cb) - 8’ROSIN
2016 - 11 strings (6vln, 2vla, 2vc, cb) - 5’ -
CRAZY STEREO SYSTEMS (AND SUBWAY LOVE)
2022 - flute, piano and clarinet - 7’
New Woods CollectiveI LIKE IT WHEN YOU SAY GOODNIGHT
2021 - clarinet, bass clarinet with call bell and drum kit - 7’
Hannah ShilvockSTILL
2021 - string quartet with narrator/tape - 6’
David Le Page QuartetWHY DO I STILL HAVE DREAMS ABOUT YOU?
2021 - guitar quartet - 6’
Zahrah HuttonSKIN
2019 - electric quartet (EWI/altsax, 2egtr, ebass) with film and audio - 30’
CODA FestivalI WISH I HAD A GIRL AS WHITE AS SNOW
2017 - oboe, piano and cello - 2’
Schubert EnsembleGUYS, I CAME UP WITH THIS RIFF
2017 - piano duo - 11’
Cobalt DuoPOTENTIALITY FOR CORRUPTION
2016 - string quintet (2vln, vla, vc, cb) - 8’SNOW IN SUMMER
2016 - violin, piano and double bass - 3’
Birmingham Chamber Music FestivalTRIO
2016 - 3 alto recorders - 4’
Birmingham Recorder Festival -
RUMINANT
2021 - viola/violin with spoken word - 10’
Laura Sinnerton (BBC National Orchestra of Wales), NMC RecordingsEXPERIMENTS
2016 - trumpet - 3’
Daniel Blanco AlbertTHIRTEEN
2016 - harpsichord - 6’
Josh RoebuckINDEFATIGABLE
2015 - flute - 3’
Rowland SutherlandESTHER
2015 - piano - 3’
Lewis Kesterton -
RED/ALIBI
2020 - soprano, piano and double bass - 6’
Amy Van WalsumSMALL
2019 - female voice, alto/tenor saxophone and cello - 4’
Orchestra In The Shape of A PearMICROGYNON 30
2019 - voice and electronics - 7’
nonclassicalWAKE
2018 - 8 voices (SSAATTBB) - 9’
Via NovaSLEEP
2016 - choir (SATB) and organ - 5’
Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir, Jonathan ScottHOW DOTH THE LITTLE CROCODILE
2016 - soprano and violin - 4’
Jeffrey Armstrong, Elizabeth Leaver -
IF YOU COULD JUST GET THE COBWEB
2022 - 3+ Performers - 6’
Contemporary Music For All Festival, CoMA Sheffield, CoMA London
About
Emily Abdy is a critically acclaimed British composer and songwriter. Her distinctive style fuses popular and experimental songwriting approaches with cinematic orchestration and interdisciplinary elements such as spoken word, film, and conceptual imagery. Her work spans commissions for renowned professional musicians, media scoring, and innovative arrangements for live performance.
Previous collaborations include London Symphony Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, Orkest de Ereprijs, and work with labels and promoters such as nonclassical and NMC Recordings. Her credits include original music for screen, including her short film SKIN, and arrangements for large-scale projects, including work with former Electric Light Orchestra members Tandy and Morgan. She regularly produces and performs her own material.
Emily holds an MMus (Distinction) and BMus (First Class) in Composition from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where she was supported by Universal Music UK. She twice received the Conservatoire’s orchestral prize and won the John Mayer Composition Prize. Her research in screen and popular music has led to speaking engagements at institutions such as the Institute of Popular Music.
She has received mentorship and attended masterclasses from notable artists including Errollyn Wallen (MBE), Jennifer Walshe, Gazelle Twin, and Joe Cutler. Emily has mentored young composers for the Young Composers Project.
Emily divides her time between London, Birmingham, and the rural Midlands.
Contact
emilyabdymusic[at]gmail.com