Joe Cutler has been described as ‘writing music of quirky dancing energy and humour mingled with mystery’ (Ivan Hewett, Daily Telegraph). For over three decades, he has been a distinctive figure on the contemporary music scene, often exploring the spaces between genres.
His music has been performed in more than 40 countries and on six continents, including performances at festivals and venues such as Bang on a Can Music Marathon (New York), Gaudeamus Music Week (Amsterdam and Utrecht), Opera City (Tokyo), ISCM World Music Days (New Zealand), Musik Monat (Basle), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Beijing Modern Music Festival, London Jazz Festival and the BBC Proms.
He has released four full-length albums: Bartlebooth (2008) and Elsewhereness (2018) on NMC Recordings, and Boogie Nights (2014) and Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii (2020) on Birmingham Record Company.
In 2008, he was awarded the British Composer Award in the chamber music category for Folk Music, written for the Smith Quartet, and in 2016 he received the British Composer Award in the jazz category for Karembeu’s Guide to the Complete Defensive Midfielder.
He has been Head of Composition at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire since 2005.
His music is published by Composers Edition and Chester Music.