Nicholas Hooper, also known as Nick Hooper, is a British film and television composer and guitarist, born on 23 July 1952. His musical journey in film commenced in the 1980s, marking the onset of a prolific creative period in his life. He is known for his award-winning scores for BBC productions such as "Land of the Tiger" and "Andes to Amazon," along with TV movies "The Girl in the Café" and "My Family and Other Animals" among others.
Hooper's acclaim skyrocketed with his composition for the Harry Potter film series, specifically "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," where he collaborated with director David Yates. These projects were notable as Hooper's involvement in blockbuster films, earning him a Grammy nomination for "Half-Blood Prince”. His other high-profile work includes the soundtrack for the Disney documentary "African Cats," which was among the 97 original scores shortlisted for nomination at the 84th Academy Awards in 2011.
Beyond film scoring, Hooper is a performing guitarist who released a solo guitar album titled "6 Strings" in 2015, followed by "Pete's Trees" with his duo Henderson:Hooper in 2018. In 2019, he featured on a charity double CD "Strings that Nimble Leap." He performs regularly with Gordon Giltrap MBE and The Boot Band. Additionally, he has released three novels: "Above the Void" (2017), "The Occasional Gardener" (2018), and "The Mirror in the Ice Cream Parlour" (2019), showcasing his versatility and creativity across different mediums.
Hooper has been active in the music domain since 1985, with a career spanning over decades, wherein he has contributed to over 250 films, dramas, and documentaries since 1990, making him one of Europe’s leading composers known for original, inspiring, and colorful music.His noteworthy accolades include a BAFTA Award and an Ivor Novello Award for Original Score in 2004 for "The Young Visiters," and a BAFTA for Best Original Television Music in 2007 for "Prime Suspect: The Final Act".
OCTOBER 2023