About
Tayla-Leigh Payne is a Welsh composer and sound artist based in London. She graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Composition and Creative Technology and subsequently undertook postgraduate studies in Composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying under Sylvia Lim. Tayla explores both notation and electronic music within her composing, her styles vary greatly from classical contemporary, electroacoustic and hybrid.
Tayla-Leigh’s most recent achievements and commissions include being awarded the Paul Mealor Prize for Young Composers, Orpheus Foundation Composer (2025/26), ABRSM: Writing for Music Education, Presteigne Music Festival’s Emerge Composer in Residence 2024/26, Erda Ensemble, Plus/Minus Ensemble, EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble, London Contemporary Dance School, BBC’s Music and Meditation Podcast with the BBC Concert Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra's Junior Artists Showcase, Bangor Music Festival, London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Composers Programme 2022/23, BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ Composition Wales Scheme, UPROAR Ensemble, Hijinx Theatre, Paraorchestra and she premiered her interactive audio installation MIXTAPE at the RWCMD Atmosphere's Festival 2021.
Tayla-Leigh’s works have been performed in notable venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, BBC’s Hoddinott Hall, St. David’s Hall and even television and radio broadcasts on BBC One Wales and BBC Radio 3.
Additionally, her creative practice includes community music, where she has worked with organisations such as Mess Up The Mess, Operasonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Green Space Dark Skies. She previously worked as a Music Youth Support Worker at YMCA Swansea and was a Trustee at Anthem Music Fund.
Creative CV
Higher Education Qualifications — (2017-2025)
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (2017/21) - BMus in Composition and Creative Technology [First-Class Honours]
Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2024/25) - MMus in Composition [Distinction]
Contemporary/Concert Music — (2020-)
Orpheus Foundation Composer (Orchestra - 2025)ABRSM Writing for Music Education (2025); Erda Ensemble (Song-Cycle - 2025); Plus/Minus Ensemble (Mixed Ensemble - 2025); EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble (Vocal Ensemble - 2025); London Contemporary Dance School (Contemporary Dance - 2024); Presteigne Festival Emerge Composer in Residence (Violin and Harp 2026; Song-Cycle 2025; Orchestra - 2024); BBC Music and Mediation Podcast w/ BBC Concert Orchestra (Orchestra - 2024); Bangor Music Festival (Quartet - 2024); Composers Studio Ty Cerdd and UPROAR Ensemble (Large Ensemble - 2024); London Philharmonic Orchestra Junior Artists Showcase (Octet - 2024); London Philharmonic Orchestra Young Composers Programme (Orchestra - 2022/23); NightMusic Ty Cerdd and James McVinnie (Solo Organ - 2022); Composition Wales BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Orchestra - 2020); Encore Ty Cerdd and National Eisteddfod yr Urdd (Solo Marimba - 2020).
Sound Art, Theatre and Film Music — (2018-)
ANON (Short Film 2025); Sonic Progressions Operasonic (Electroacoustic - 2024); The Game Operasonic (Short Film - 2024); Dark Matter TinShed Theatre Company (Electroacoustic - 2023); Green Space Dark Skies Project (Electroacoustic - 2022); CoDI Lead Ty Cerdd and Paraorchestra (Electroacoustic - 2022); Atmosphere’s Festival - MIXTAPE Installation RWCMD (Audio Installation - 2021); Folks of the Footbridge Project Operasonic (Electroacoustic - 2021); Anfamol Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (Theatre - 2021); CoDI Move Ty Cerdd and Hijinx Theatre (Electroacoustic - 2020); The Baffling Exhibition (Electroacoustic - 2019); Therese Raquine RWCMD (Theatre - 2019); Simone RWCMD (Theatre - 2019) and Playboy of the Western World RWCMD (Theatre - 2018).
Outreach/ Teaching/ Community Music Practitioner — (2021-)
Operasonic (2022) - The Game, Sonic Singalong, Riverfront Project, Folks of the Footbridge Project
YMCA Swansea (2021-) - Townhill Youth Club, Barnardo’s Services, YMCA Swansea Good Vibes (LGBTQ+) Services, YMCA Swansea Young Carers Group
London Philharmonic Orchestra (2023) - Open Sound Workshop
Green Space Dark Skies (2022) - YOVO and Healthy Lives Project
Mess Up The Mess (2022) - Spring and Winter Showcase [Fi, Ti a Ni, Ice Spy, Bloedd]
Trustee — (2022-2025)
Anthem Cronfa Gerdd Cymru Young Trustee (2022-2025)
Prizes — (2025-)
Paul Mealor Prize for Young Composers (2025)
Tracey Chadwell Memorial Prize (2025)
Get in touch.
If you are interested in commissioning Tayla-Leigh Payne for any projects or if you wish to hire scores and parts of her works, please contact her below.