Nneka Cummins is a composer and producer, their practice has a focus on groove-inspired music which uses extended techniques to add colour and percussiveness and explores the idea of deconstruction and re-examination through sampled electronics. They curate new sonic combinations resulting in timbral blends that form original sound worlds and often incorporates organic, flowing melodies in their work.
Nneka composed Finding Gills [when they try to drown you] for orchestra and electronics, which was performed by Sinfonia Smith Square in March 2025 during their nonclassical Artist in Residence. Finding Gills won Best Large Ensemble Composition at The Ivors Classical Awards 2025.
Nneka completed their MA in Composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2022. They were awarded the Liverpool Philharmonic’s Rushworth Composition Prize in 2021 and a Paul Hamlyn Artist’s Award in 2023. Nneka has composed for a range of ensembles including Ensemble 10:10 (the Liverpool Philharmonic’s contemporary music group), the Philharmonia Orchestra and The Marian Consort.
Nneka developed the glitchy electro-acoustic work, Saplings during their participation in Sound and Music’s New Voices 2022-2023. Their new orchestral work, hope is an act of protest, was performed by Chineke! in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre in November 2025.
Nneka is one of the composers on the 2026 RPS Programme and will write for Manchester Camerata, premiering in June 2026.