Thomas Crawley is doing a Masters in Composition at York St John University. Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, in 1998, he started composing music at the age of 14. He has entered piano pieces in music festivals in Essex, encouraged by his piano teacher, Jacqueline Pipe.

Mahler has been a big influence on him — he especially loves his Second, Fifth and Ninth Symphonies and the Song of the Earth. Thomas has had three performances of his works by the Delta Sax Quartet, Late Music Ensemble, Christopher O’Gorman and Kate Ledger.