SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize 2018 winner

We are thrilled to announce the winner of the SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize: David Chaulk with Reverie for cornet and piano.

This is the second time the 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 Blenheim in July. The performance will also be recorded and made available on SOUNZ’s website.

"I'm absolutely delighted to receive this prize, writing for brass is one of the great joys of my compositional life and to get some validation for my effort is wonderful. Thanks so much to SOUNZ for continuing to encourage new music," said David Chaulk.

In addition to the winning composition, two other works were highly commended: Fantasy by Chris Artley, and Echoes by David Woodcock, who won the prize in 2016. These works will be also performed at the National Brass Band Championships and a recording will be available for listening on SOUNZ’s website.

The entries were judged by composer Kenneth Young, who said, “A very pleasing number of entries; all of them with an awareness of the idiomatic characteristics of the solo instruments they were writing for. However, sometimes this did not extend to the quality of the piano accompaniment. The variety of styles was also a big bonus; everything from traditional religious based pieces to works with a more contemporary, challenging feel through to some jazz influenced compositions.”

Byron Newton, from Brass band Association of New Zealand, said, “We are very pleased to support this competition, as we’re always keen to encourage composers to write for brass bands. We now look forward very much to hearing the pieces performed as part of the Invitation Slow Melody evening – one of the premier events of our national contest. Our thanks to SOUNZ and CANZ for initiating and promoting this event.”

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

ends.

© Scoop Media