Natalie Roe is a composer based in Cardiff. She uses her skills as an electronic artist to bring acoustic classical music and electronic sounds together in her compositions. Natalie’s entrepreneurial streak has seen her co-found The Flying Bedroom Theatre Company and sound-sculpture duo Tangible Lemon as vehicles for her innovative music. As well as writing for the concert hall, Natalie has composed music for TV and theatre, and created immersive sound installations in Helsinki as part of her studies in electronic music at the Sibelius Academy. 

You can read more about Natalie and and her music on our website here.

Natalie's new work, I need stillness/ Mae angen llonydd arnaf for solo cello, written for and performed by Rainer Crosett – is programmed alongside Sally Beamish's Gala Water, Imogen Holst's The Fall of the Leaf and Bach's Cello Suite in D minor.

Natalie says: 'I need stillness addresses how amongst the busyness of everyday life, we need to stop and be still.

As you will hear in the music, the sustained opening is interrupted by the 'heart beat' motif which expands and develops into the fast pace and busy middle section. It's not until later on that this gets broken and returns to a calm and free ending section where the player is able to breathe calmly' within the music.

This juxtaposition emphasises we cannot have the 'calm without the storm' and vice versa.

I began writing this piece whilst I was in a remote village in the North of Shetland, surrounded by nature and fascinated by the sea meeting the cliff edges. It wasn't until then when I realised how important stillness is and how it is not healthy to be in a constant state of busyness or distraction.

Tickets: £22 Premium · £15 Unreserved · £1 Young People (aged 8–25)

Natalie is one of eight individuals supported by the 2026 RPS Composers programme, giving each a commission and premiere with a noted ensemble, festival or venue, as well as a year of professional development which gives them the chance to meet industry experts and professional composers, furthering their confidence and skills to seek further commissions and premieres of their own. Natalie's RPS commission is kindly supported by an anonymous donor, and we're grateful to RPS Members and a range of trusts and foundations whose generous support makes the RPS Composers programme possible.

You can find out more about RPS Membership and how you can help us support talented musicians like Natalie here.

Natalie is writing for the Presteigne Festival. Click the button below to discover more on their website and book your tickets for the performance.