Nick has been composing for the last 30 years. As a creative musician, he likes composing best when he knows the players he is writing for. The challenge of making “everyone sound at his or her best” along with the profound care Nick holds for every musician (their taste and interests) make his work unique.

However every piece written has a definite “Hayes” quality: a knack for entrancing rhythms, a striking use of modality over tonality, an exceptional sense of orchestration which together, make Nick’s compositions exceptional and charismatic.

These qualities and an attention to detail, from the initial brief to the meticulous scores, make the collaboration pleasurable and always successful.

His recent works include:

• The Lullaby project in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Irene Taylor Trust working with young mothers and fathers to write songs for their children.
• Comme Ci Comme Ca: a cantata for young players and orchestra plus two choirs, 4 professional singers (3 sopranos and a baritone). Based on West Side Story. Premièred with the Brussels Philharmonic.
• Super Héros: a suite of 10 songs for young singers, professional orchestra, young players (optional). Premièred with the Belgian National Orchestra.

Nick has been Composer in Residence for El Sistema Belgium for almost 10 years, often writing for young players, symphony orchestra and choirs of school children.

He is a long-time collaborator of the Irene Taylor Trust / Music in Prisons where he works with other musicians and inmates to write original material.

In recent years, Nick has worked for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Irene Taylor Trust in young offenders’ institutions, as part of their Community and Engagement programme originally initiated by Maestro Ricardo Muti.

He has been commissioned by Ensemble Bash, No Strings Attached, Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, Tapestry and the Palladian Ensemble.