Naomi Brown Biography
Naomi Brown is an Australian composer, specialising in writing classical music with a cinematic style, often in response to a text. Most of her concert works convey a story or evoke strong programmatic imagery.
Her compositions have been performed by leading Australian musicians and ensembles, including the Flinders Quartet, Trio Arapiles, Matthew Kneale, Luce Duet and Grainger Wind Symphony.
In 2026, Naomi composed a work for the Australasian Double Reed Society (ADRS) and Japan Oboe Association (JOA) Friendship Concert for four oboes and bassoon. Based on Les Murray's poem Flowering Eucalypt in Autumn, the work was performed in Tokyo and Chiba. She also composed The Poem and the Poet for Luce Duet, based on Miriam Wei Wei Lo's poem Who Comes Calling?, which was performed at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, and the Abbotsford Convent. She composed The Windhover for Trio Arapiles, based on Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem of the same name, which premiered at the inaugural Malvern Chamber Music Festival in 2026 before subsequent performances in Sydney and Adelaide.
Naomi has been commissioned to compose Evening Train for bassoon and percussion for bassoon virtuoso Matthew Kneale (founder of Arcadia Winds and Ensemble Français). Inspired by a poem by Denise Levertov, the work is scheduled to premiere at Wagga Weekender in 2027.
Her work Home, based on Miriam Wei Wei Lo's poem of the same name, was featured on ABC Radio National's Soul Search in 2025. Naomi has also composed several works for Matthew Kneale, including The Sea and the Skylark for bassoon and oboe, inspired by Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Rivers and Thoughts for two bassoons and piano, based on Miriam Wei Wei Lo's poem A Few Thoughts on Multiple Identity. Both works were performed at the 2024 Australian Double Reed Convention.
Naomi was commissioned by the Flinders Quartet to compose the string quartet Fractured Peace for their Beethoven and the Vignettes project. The quartet has also performed her earlier work A Storm in the Mountains. Her wind ensemble work A Poet's Home was selected for Grainger Wind Symphony's annual Made in Australia concert, and her choral work Welcome was written for the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.
Beyond chamber and ensemble music, Naomi has composed two collections of solo piano music. The Orchard was recorded by pianist Kay Chim and released under the project name Contemplative Cadences. Her second suite, Bright Wings and Dappled Things, inspired by the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, has also been recorded and is awaiting release.
Naomi is studying composition with film composer Amy Jørgensen, further developing her expertise in composition, orchestration, music theory, and music production. Her distinctive musical voice continues to explore the rich intersection of poetry, storytelling, and contemporary classical music.