Oliver Searle originally studied to become a classroom music teacher at Aberdeen University and in 2000, he moved to Glasgow, where he studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with John Maxwell Geddes, gaining a Distinction for his Masters degree in 2002. He completed a PhD in composition in 2006, supervised by Gordon McPherson and has recently written works for the Paragon Ensemble, the National Youth Choir of Scotland, London Sinfonietta, the Hebrides Ensemble, Psappha, Red Note, the Bearsden Choir, the Scottish Reed Trio, the BBCSSO, Illuminati, SYMPOSiA, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the New Music Players and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
In 2002, he received a silver medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians in London and in 2004 he won the Mendelssohn Scholarship. Over the last few years, he has had works performed in the Glasgow Proms and at festivals and venues in Oxford, Edinburgh, Manchester, Aldeburgh, Cluj-Napoca, San Francisco, Johannesburg, Verona and Berlin, with several broadcasts in Europe and Asia.
Recent endeavours include a PRS 20x12 New Music Award, as part of the Cultural Olympiad, collaborating with musicians from Drake Music Scotland. He is also frequently involved in the creation of music for theatre, has a lecturing post at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has completed a number of music projects for people with cochlear implants.
Oliver currently holds the position of chairperson of the Scottish Music Centre, where he is also a member.
