Barry Mills was born in Plymouth in 1949 and is for the most part self-taught as a composer. He obtained a degree in Biochemistry from Sussex University in 1971, returning there in 1976-77 to pursue an MA in Music, studying analysis with David Osmond-Smith and David Roberts and composition with Colin Matthews and Ann Boyd.

He is now retired after having been a postman for many years, a job which allowed him to compose in the afternoons.

Five CDs of his music have been issued by Claudio Records. Thalia Myers commissioned the piano piece “Clouds” from him for the Spectrum 2 collection published by the Associated Board and recorded by her on the NMC double CD “Spectrum”. This piece was issued by the Associated Board as a Grade 3 set piece in August 2002.  

His orchestral piece “Tartano” was premiered by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Jiri Mikula, in 1997 in Olomouc, the Czech Republic, and recorded by them for the Vienna Modern Masters label.

In addition to those musicians who have recorded Barry Mills’ music on CD, his music has also been performed by: Philippa Davis (flute), Michael Finnish (piano), Steve Dummer (clarinet), Ivana Peranic (cello), Adam Swayne (piano), Helen Burford (piano), Michiko Shimanuki (piano), Jacob Swindles (piano), Terence Allbright (piano), Richard Deering (piano), Renee Reznek (piano), Marianne Mezger (recorder), Jill Kemp/Rianka Bouwmeester (recorder/piano), Charlotte Pugh (recorder), Robert Hinchcliffe (oboe), Rachel Fryer (piano), Marcia Bellamy (mezzo soprano), Ian Glen (bassoon), Ivana Peranic (cello), Elliot Corner and Irena Radic (viola and piano), The Ridgewood Piano Duo (David Elwin and Dorothy Maxwell), Birgit Schwab/Daniel Ahlert (mandolin and guitar duo, Germany), Katrin Wittmann/Silvius Treutwein (violin and and flute, Germany), Nancy Ruffer/Helen Crayford (flute/piano), Rattenbury/Jenner guitar duo,  Rattenbury/Ashworth guitar duo, Andrew Robinson (baritone) and Joe Ward (piano), Amalthea Duo (flute/harp), Lucina Harp Duo, Ireland Trio, Jeux, Jane’s Minstrels, Endymion Ensemble, Sounds Positive, Tacet Ensemble, Aulos Ensemble, Kevin Allen/Glen Capra (piano duo), David Jones (baritone)/George Ireland (piano), Glen Capra/Joseph Spooner (piano and cello), Imogen Hancock (trumpet)/Jennifer Hughes (piano),  Ensemble Amei, Dimitris Leontzakis (clarinet) and Nicolos Dimopoulos (flute) (Greece),  The Riot Ensemble, Vega Wind Quintet, London Myriad Ensemble, the California Consort, Esprit, Quintetto Auletico (Wind Quintet made up of members of the Swiss Italian Radio Orchestra), the Northern Saxophone Quartet, Singelee Saxophone Quartet (Italy), Quartetto di Sassofoni Arte (Switzerland), Hilser Trio, Windmill Clarinet Quartet, The Kingfisher String Quartet, Aurora Trio, Montpellier Cello Quartet, The Mercury Quartet, The Regency Ensemble, Trio Taffanel, The Shellira String Quartet, Sussex Flutes, Brighton Youth Choir, Brighton Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Southern Winds, The Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra, The Musicians of All Saints, the Akademisches Orchester Basel, conductor Raphael Immoos, and the Sussex Symphony Orchestra.

The Society for the Promotion of New Music has performed three of his pieces: Harp Sketches, Clarinet Quintet and Septet and shortlisted Four Preludes for String Orchestra and Tapestry for full orchestra. His music has been performed and broadcast in England and Switzerland. Some performances have taken place at many London venues, including the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St Martin’s in the Fields, St John’s Smith Square, the Almeida Theatre and the Warehouse.  Performances have also taken place in the USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Wales and Italy.

He received an Arts Council Award in 2013 to compose a piece to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sussex Symphony Orchestra (Evening Rain – Sunset) which was performed in Hove Town Hall on 9 March of that year.

He and the film maker Jerry Laurence have produced 45 films of performances of his music which can be accessed on this website by clicking on the “Filmed Performances” icon, or by going to Barry Mills’ Youtube channel.

Barry Mills is currently composing a Mandolin and Guitar piece for Daniel Ahlert and Birgit Schwab.