Napier Born Composer Appointed as Composer in Residence

Media Release
For immediate release
Monday 5th January 2015

Napier Born Composer Appointed as Composer in Residence

Napier born David Hamilton is well known to New Zealanders as one of our most successful composers of music in all genres. However, David is best known for his choral works and works for solo voice. So it was a match made in heaven when the New Zealand Singing School Trust decided to create the position of Composer in Residence for the 2015 IFAC Handa New Zealand Singing School, and David applied for the position.

“There is not a large selection of music for solo voice with piano suitable for teenage performers; and we are keen to support and encourage the performance of New Zealand music by our students” explains New Zealand Singing School Chairperson, Jill Tobin.

David has been commissioned by the NZSS Trust to fill this gap and write a work or works suitable for the 16–21 year old age group as part of his residency, which is to be held Wednesday 7th January to Saturday 17th January 2015 at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke’s Bay.

“David is already supporting the school musically and has composed a choral piece which will be premiered at the school, and has given us free access to two other choral works which he composed recently, both use New Zealand texts and they will be performed either at the service of sacred music and readings, or at the classics in the village concert” says Jill Tobin.

The three pieces are entitled “Wonderful Me”, which was written especially for the 2015 IFAC Handa New Zealand Singing School using a poem by Margaret Mahy; “Kia Hora Te Marino”, which uses a well-known Maori proverb and blessing; and the final work is entitled “Blessing for this Day” and utilises a short blessing written for St Mary's Schola at St Mary's College in Auckland.

“This music will be versatile in that it is suitable for both men and women, and transposable for any voice type. It is being created and hopefully performed at our school, but it will also be available to other singers as it is to be lodged with SOUNZ” explains Jill Tobin.

This position at the school is being supported with funding from Creative NZ through their Arts Grant scheme which recognises the importance of new compositions and increasing the library of New Zealand music.

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