Vic Hoyland has been active as a composer since 1970 and was first published with Universal Edition (London) at the age of 25. Works prior to 1994 are held by Universal Edition (London), now housed at Vienna. Works after 1994 are held by Composers Edition.
From 1980 to 2011 Vic was Haywood Research Fellow at The Barber Institute. He also held positions of lecturer, senior lecturer, reader, and eventually professor of composition at the University of Birmingham. He retired in September 2011, and was soon after conferred as emeritus professor. Vic was actively involved in the performance of instrumental music and music theatre (a founder director of Northern Music Theatre, based in York, with performances in London, York, Huddersfield, and Bath Festivals). He worked alongside Jonty Harrison (founder director of BEAST) and major productions were mounted in Birmingham over a 30 year period of collaboration. Their final extravaganza was at the Q Club, Birmingham – Squares Circles Labyrinths. Vic, alongside Simon Rattle and Simon Clugston, established the association of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group with the university, 15 years ago, and this association continues to flourish after his retirement.
He lectured/examined at the Academy, York, Sheffield, London University, City University, and the universities of Cardiff, Queens, Belfast, Durham, Huddersfield and UCSD, California.