SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize 2016

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music is thrilled to announce the winner of the inaugural SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize: David Woodcock with Elegy for cornet and piano.

This new composition prize for works for solo brass instrument is presented together with the Brass Band Association of New Zealand (BBANZ) and Composers’ Association of New Zealand (CANZ). In addition to a cash prize, the winner will receive one year’s membership of CANZ and the winning piece will be performed at the National Brass Band Championships in Napier in July. The performance will be recorded and audio will be available on SOUNZ’s website later in the year.

"I was thrilled at hearing the news that ‘Elegy’ had won and would be featured at the Invitation Slow Melody event in Napier. I look forward very much to hearing the performance and I thank SOUNZ and the BBANZ for awarding me this opportunity,” says David Woodcock.

The first ever SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize was judged by composer John Rimmer, who complemented the quality of all entries, "All the twenty entries in this competition are worthy of performances. There was a pleasing range of styles, including some pieces, which went beyond the artistic requirements of the ‘slow melody’ type of piece. I listened for those that showed a strong sense of melodic writing and were well conceived for the brass instrument. I looked for accompaniments which supported the solo instrument and were themselves stylishly written. A musical balance between the two was an important consideration. The winning work demonstrates these aspects very well."

In addition to the winning composition, two other works were highly commended: Meditasi for cornet and piano by Ross Carey, and Song for Aylan for cornet and piano by David Chaulk. Both of these works will be also performed at this year’s National Brass Band Championships and a recording will be available for listening on SOUNZ’s website.

“SOUNZ is delighted to be involved in this new composition prize. Offering opportunities for New Zealand composers is essential for our work and it is through these kinds of competitions that we can make a variety of NZ music heard, and played, around the country. Composer competitions also enable us to create music resources, which can be used by a variety of composers, musician, orchestras, educators and other music professional and enthusiasts,” said SOUNZ Executive Director Diana Marsh.

The scores and parts of the winner’s and finalists’ works will be made available for sale through SOUNZ.

ENDS

© Scoop Media