Scholarship awarded to gifted young composer

Media Release

Embargoed: 4pm, 6 November 2006

Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship awarded to gifted young composer

Award-winning young composer Robin Toan is the 2006 recipient of the $20,000 Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship.

The annual Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship, administered by Creative New Zealand, supports outstanding New Zealand composers to further their studies.

Robin Toan, who is currently studying for a Masters in Music at the New Zealand School of Music, intends to use the scholarship to study in Europe. She plans to meet with composers at several universities in England, before heading to Germany.

"The fantastic thing about receiving this scholarship is that I now have the chance to travel overseas and study the broadest variety of ideas and sample from a great range of knowledge and expertise," Robin Toan said.

"I'm looking forward to going to as may of Europe's music festivals that I can so that I can listen to contemporary pieces that aren't performed in New Zealand."

Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright said Robin Toan was an excellent candidate for the scholarship. “The Edwin Carr Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for a gifted composer like Robin to develop a professional career in music, by working and studying with international composers.

“One of Creative New Zealand’s key roles is to support creative development for our artists so we are delighted to administer this scholarship on behalf of the Edwin Carr Foundation. This is the first scholarship in New Zealand dedicated to the professional development of composers.”

Robin, who is based in Auckland, is currently working on a string orchestra composition which will premiere in Paris in December 2006.

Robin received the 2006 SOUNZ Community Commission to write a fanfare for the Manukau City Symphony Orchestra which will premiere in 2007. She was also commissioned to write a work for a Chamber Music New Zealand tour in 2007.

In April Robin won the ADAM International Cello Competition Young Composers Competition. She was also the joint recipient of the TODD/NZSO Corporation Young Composers Award with her composition La Sagrada Familia.

Robin was the inaugural composer-in-residence in 2005 of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra National Youth Orchestra after composing Tü-mata-uenga God of War, Spirit of Man. She was also awarded the inaugural New Zealand APRA Professional Development Award.

Tony Carr, the brother of Edwin Carr and a trustee of the Edwin Carr Foundation, will present the Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship to Robin Toan.

For more information about Robin Toan please visit: www.robintoan.com

ENDS

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