A TALENTED young composer is seeing his compositions go global.

Nic Mills, a music student at the University of Huddersfield, has already seen one of his pieces premiered by the Swiss Army Brass Band.

And his compositions are now being played all over the world as his star continues to rise.

Nic, who grew up in Plymouth, says he has Yorkshire’s brass bands to thank.

Before he moved north to Huddersfield for his degree, he had hardly encountered brass bands.

Now he has played percussion with several – and found them keen to tackle his compositions.

Nic, 20, said: “Brass bands are great for young composers, they have kick-started my career.

“They are highly accessible and always on the lookout for new music.”

Nic has already had a 25-minute work published by a leading European company and top bands in Britain and overseas have played his pieces.

His biggest work so far is named ‘Symphonic Suite for Brass Band’.

It has been published by a leading firm based in Switzerland and given its international premiere by the Swiss Army Brass Band, which was met with critical acclaim.

Nic, who is a member of Diggle Brass Band in Saddleworth, has also seen his pieces recorded by top outfit the Leyland Band.

He learned to play the flute and piano as a youngster, but it was while studying for his music GCSE that he became captivated by composition.

He went on to win the South West Young Composer after writing a score for a film about a flooded Cornish village.

He also heard some of his music performed at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Nic is about to embark on the third year of his degree and is aiming for a career as a composer.

He has ambitions to write scores for TV and film and counts his influences as composers John Barry and John Williams.

The university has a global reputation for experimental contemporary music, although Nic embraces a more melodic, romantic style of composition.

He said: “The tutors here are very helpful with my composition, even though it’s not necessarily their style.

“They are very keen to help and they see me as learning about the contemporary techniques taught here and then using them in my own pieces.

“If I had gone to a different university, I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities.”

In addition to pieces for brass and wind bands, Nic has also written for unusual combinations.

These include an ensemble that mixed Japanese and Western instruments.

A wind band in Beijing has become the latest international group to play Nic’s music and he has received a concert recording.

He said: “It was a real thrill to receive the recording from China.

“They do a great job with the piece and it is quite a buzz to think of my music being played thousands of miles away!”