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Steve Sidwell

b. 1961

British conductor and composer, also worked as trumpeter

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About Steve Sidwell

Born 1961. Steve Sidwell is a British conductor, composer, trumpeter, music arranger and musician.

Steve Sidwell is an English arranger, composer, and trumpeter.

Music career Some of his work include the composition of "Elements & Motion" for the 79th Academy Awards with the Hollywood SFX Chorale, which received an Emmy nomination. Other credits include London 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, The Nightly Show 2017 with hosts Bradley Walsh and Jason Manford, the 2015 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony at Twickenham, 2015 and 2014 BBC Music Awards, BBC Live at Edinburgh Castle, 2014 Ryder Cup Gala, Robbie Williams Live at The Palladium, Bruce Forsyth's Hall of Fame, BBC The Voice series 1 and 2, Robbie Williams Live at the Albert, The Robbie Williams TV Special, Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall, Children in Need Rock the MEN, Children in Need Rocks for Terry, the BBC Olympic Handover Concert, Victoria Wood’s Christmas Special, Victoria's Empire, Chris Moyles' Quiz Night, Ant & Dec's Christmas Show and the opening of The Dubai World Cup.

Sidwell's 2018 projects include: conductor and orchestrator for The Queen's Birthday Party; music co-producer for the film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Advertising campaigns include the award-winning Honda Civic Choir (conducted by Sidwell himself), Stella 4%, M&S Christmas featuring Shirley Bassey, Virgin Holidays featuring Charlotte Church, Nokia Navigator, Heineken, Orange, Bounty, Dulux, Lotto, Walkers, McDonald's, Supernoodles, Coca-Cola, Capital Radio London and Guinness.

Theatre credits include orchestrating Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for which Sidwell was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Orchestrations. Sidwell's 2015 Grammy Award was for the Best Musical Theatre Album for the original cast album Beautiful: The Musical. In 2017 Sidwell orchestrated Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell. He also orchestrated We Will Rock You, Made In Dagenham, Our House, Daddy Cool, Viva La Diva, Dancing On Ice Live and Katherine Jenkins' Believe show.

Sidwell has also contributed to film including tracks for Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet, Bridget Jones's Diary, SpongeBob SquarePants, Finding Nemo, Mona Lisa Smile, and 101 Dalmatians 2.

Album credits include the orchestration and conducting of Robbie Williams' multi-platinum selling albums Swings Both Ways and Swing When You're Winning. Recent projects include recordings with Sarah Brightman and the LSO, Paul Young, Jeff Beck, Seal, Shirley Bassey, Kerry Ellis and Paul Carrack.

Sidwell has also performed professionally with many international artists including Enya, George Michael, Amy Winehouse, Snow Patrol, Lily Allen, Cheryl Cole, Muse, Dizzee Rascal, Mika, Nik Kershaw, Take That, Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis, Tom Jones, Sting, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Mark Knopfler, The Feeling, McFly, Will Young, Bryan Ferry, Joss Stone, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, The Who, Ian Dury, Wet Wet Wet, Charlie Watts, Henry Mancini, Michael Nyman, Todd Rundgren, The Metropole Orchestra and Joan Armatrading.

Sidwell also conducted the score for Disney's Once Upon a Dream Parade, the daily parade at Disneyland Paris which was the centrepiece of the resort's 15 year anniversary in 2007. The music was performed by the 100-strong Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, and is a "little bit jazzy" in its style.

Sidwell has worked with Kerry Ellis and Brian May on Ellis' first EP Wicked in Rock and debut album Anthems.

He was musical director for BBC's The Voice UK Series 1 and 2 with Tom Jones, Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and will.i.am.

Sidwell was the arranger of Robbie Williams album Swings Both Ways. The album features duets with Lily Allen, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Olly Murs and Rufus Wainwright.

Steve Sidwell has also worked with Fairuz. He arranged her album Bebalee, released in September 2017. The album was recorded at Angel Studios in London in 2016, where Sidwell conducted the orchestra.

Awards Sidwell is the orchestrator and arranger for the Broadway and West End musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. He was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for the soundtrack. He was also nominated for a Tony Award in 2014 and an Olivier Award in 2015.

Collaborations Year Album Artist Notes 1985 Secret Secrets Joan Armatrading 1986 Running in the Family Level 42 1987 Save the Last Dance for Me Ben E. King 1987 Faith George Michael on the track "I Want Your Sex Part II: Brass in Love"; co-played horns with Paul Spong, Rick Taylor 1988 Stop! Sam Brown on the track "Nutbush City Limits" 1988 Comedy Black 1991 Black Black 1992 Amused to Death Roger Waters on "Late Home Tonight, Part I" and "... Part II" 1993 Je te dis vous Patricia Kaas 1993 The Red Shoes Kate Bush 1996 Elena Maggie Reilly 1996 Older George Michael 1997 Across from Midnight Joe Cocker 1997 Life thru a Lens Robbie Williams 1999 Twenty Four Seven Tina Turner 1999 The Accused Black 1999 No Ordinary World Joe Cocker 1999 Twelve Months, Eleven Days Gary Barlow 2000 Fabulous Sheena Easton 2000 Play Mode Randy Crawford 2000 Sing When You're Winning Robbie Williams 2000 Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell 2001 Goddess in the Doorway Mick Jagger 2001 Swing When You're Winning Robbie Williams 2002 Escapology Robbie Williams 2003 Seal Seal 2005 Intensive Care Robbie Williams 2005 The Moment Lisa Stansfield 2006 Back to Black Amy Winehouse 2007 Kill to Get Crimson Mark Knopfler 2013 New Paul McCartney 2015 7 Seal

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Important facts

Born
1961
Birth century
Nationality
Education
Ashmole Academy

People in Steve Sidwell's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Steve Sidwell's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Steve Sidwell?

British conductor and composer, also worked as trumpeter

When was Steve Sidwell born?

Steve Sidwell was born in 1961.

What is Steve Sidwell's occupation?

Steve Sidwell is a conductor, composer, trumpeter, music arranger and musician.

What nationality is Steve Sidwell?

Steve Sidwell is British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Steve Sidwell

· Wikidata: Q3973394

· DBpedia: Steve Sidwell (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Steve Sidwell. https://biography.guide/steve-sidwell-conductor/

MLA: "Steve Sidwell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/steve-sidwell-conductor/.

Chicago: "Steve Sidwell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/steve-sidwell-conductor/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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