Composing Competition |

NZTrio Composing Competition 2019

Theme: Impetus

Brief: Write a composition no longer than 10 minutes in length inspired by the issues you feel would benefit from more public awareness.

Workshop Selection Announcement!

A total of 31 scores were submitted from around the country to our third NZTrio Composing Competition. We were impressed with the overall standard and variety of voices within the entries, and it was very clear that much thought had gone in to the issues and topics the students had chosen to focus on. It was impressive to see the range of ideas communicated through each composer’s distinct musical language.

Following several full and rewarding days of playing through the scores, we have chosen 15 entries to progress to the workshop rounds later this month.

Our warm congratulations go to all the composers who submitted scores, and our sincere thanks go to the teachers and mentors (selection list below).

Workshop dates are:

Wednesday 24th July: NZSM Victoria University (Wellington students)
Friday 26th July: University of Auckland (Auckland and Waikato students)
Monday 29th July: NZSM University of Canterbury (Christchurch and Otago students).

“We now have our work cut out for us in preparing the selected compositions for the workshops. We’re looking forward to meeting the people behind the notes, and to sharing our thoughts while working together with those composers in the workshop sessions.

Following these workshops the selected composers will have the opportunity to revise their works (should they wish) for resubmission by Friday 6th September. The finalists, chosen by NZTrio and composer Dame Gillian Whitehead, will be announced on Thursday 19th September for performances in Auckland on Monday 21st October with a second concert TBC.

Our hearty congratulations go to these 15 entries listed below, that progress to the workshop stage.
See you all soon!”

Ashley, Somi and Yuri*
NZTrio

(*Yuri Cho, guest violinist for the NZTrio 2019 Composing Competition)

Workshop Score Selection:

University of Otago

Nathaniel Otley – … dimension of loss
Ihlara McIndoe – (ir)rationality

University of Canterbury

Rakuto Kurano – Fantail in Tokyo
Robert William Bryce – Caillte
Thomas Bedggood – Piano Trio No.1

University of Auckland

Liam Pram – Auckland Housing
Olivee Bramah – Duvarthim Visadahyum
John Donaldson – insoucient
Dylan Shepherd – .m.o.o.d.
Joshua Taylor – quirkdale
Cassidy Wilgar – time
Ewan Collins – Tinnitus of a City

University of Waikato

Shamus Baker – Satori Theatre

Te KōKī New Zealand School of Music

Kassandra Wang – Matakite for the Microbiome
Ming Shi – Villager’s Whisper

More on NZTrio Composing Competition

In 2015 we kicked off our first Composing Competition for tertiary students, culminating in Auckland and Wellington performances of the winning 10 compositions. The 13-minute documentary below (filmed and edited by Chris Watson at SOUNZ) presents an overview of how the competition came about, the process involved, and why Douglas Lilburn was chosen as the inspiration for the first competition.

Video from 2015 NZTrio Composing Competition

NZTrio Composing Competition 2017: TURN A PHRASE

A total of 23 scores were submitted from around the country to our second NZTrio Composing Competition. We were impressed with the overall standard and variety of voices within the entries, and it was very clear that much thought had gone in to the selection of words by a wide range of New Zealand authors and poets. It was exciting to see those words and imagery given new context through each composer’s distinct musical language.

17 entries were chosen to progress to the workshop rounds in July and August where we had a chance to meet the people behind the notes and share our thoughts. The composers then had another couple of months to make any revisions before resubmitting their works for the final selection round in September.

Together with composer Juliet Palmer, we then selected 9 winners based on the strength and originality of the scores, as well as considering how authentically and meaningfully each composer responded to the brief:

‘ to find a New Zealand author or poet whose carefully crafted words inspire a musical work of no more than 10 minutes in length.’

In alphabetical order of surname, the nine winning works are:

Riley Cahill: Territory of the Heart

Josiah Carr: Time and Glue

Rosa Elliott: Voices of the Air

Richard Francis: Reflections

Marcus Jackson: when where

Lily James: Charcoal on White Snow

Callum Mallett: Departure, at the Going Tide

Abby Pinkerton: Whispers and Echoes

Xu Tang: One Two Three

Congratulations to you all. We very much enjoyed performing your works at the Winners’ Concerts.

Ashley, Sarah and Miranda*
NZTrio

(*Miranda Adams, guest violinist for the NZTrio 2017 Composing Competition)

Public performances of finalist works:

Sunday, October 15 – Wellington NZSM Adam Concert Room, 5 – 7pm

Friday, October 20 – Auckland School of Music, 7.30 – 9.30pm

FREE EVENTS – General Admission

NZTrio Composing Competition 2015: Celebrating Lilburn

In 2015 we kicked off our first Composing Competition for tertiary students, culminating in Auckland and Wellington performances of the winning 10 compositions. The 13-minute documentary above (filmed and edited by Chris Watson at SOUNZ) presents an overview of how the competition came about, the process involved, and why Douglas Lilburn was chosen as the inspiration for this first competition.

41 scores were submitted from composition students around the country, all responding to the brief: Write a new work for Piano Trio that references, or responds to, Douglas Lilburn’s life and work. 18 compositions were selected by NZTrio for workshops, then following revision and resubmission, 10 works were chosen by NZTrio and composer Ken Young to be performed in the Winner’s Concerts in Auckland and Wellington.