Nicola LeFanu was born in England in 1947, the daughter of Irish parents: her mother was the composer Elizabeth Maconchy. LeFanu studied at Oxford, RCM and, as a Harkness Fellow, at Harvard. She has Honorary doctorates from the Universities of Durham, Aberdeen, and Open University, and is FRCM and FTCL.

She has composed some sixty works which have been played and broadcast all over the world; her music is published by Novello and by Peters Edition Ltd. She has been commissioned by the BBC (including the Proms), by festivals in UK and beyond, and by leading orchestras, ensembles and soloists. Many works are available on CD; a Naxos CD of her music for strings was issued in 2005.

Lefanu has a particular affinity for vocal music and has composed six operas: Dawnpath, (New Opera Company, London, 1977), The Story of Mary O’Neill, a radio opera, libretto by McInerney, (BBC, 1987), The Green Children, a children’s opera, libretto by Crossley-Holland, (Kings Lynn Festival, 1990), Blood Wedding, libretto by Levy (WPT, London 1992), The Wildman, libretto by Crossley-Holland, (Aldeburgh Festival, 1995) and Light Passing, libretto by Edmonds, (BBC/NCEM, York, 2004).

She is active in many aspects of the musical profession, as composer, teacher, director etc. From 1994 - 2008 she was Professor of Music at the University of York, where many gifted composers came to study with her. Previously she taught composition at Kings' College London; in the 1970s, she directed Morley College Music Theatre. Recent premieres include works for voice, for chamber ensemble and for amateur choir.