Music of 'fevered ferocity' wins NZSM composition prize

First prize in the 2011 New Zealand School of Music Composers Competition has gone to MMA student Tristan Carter for his composition Attacus atlas.

The work for amplified string duo is based around improvisational structures and the judges felt that it "provided a compelling exploration of new timbral and gestural worlds, uncovered with both delicacy and fevered ferocity".

"Tristan is proving himself to be a strong voice on the national scene," says Michael Norris, NZSM Composition Programme Leader. “In November he will represent New Zealand on the international stage at the Asian Composers League Young Composers Competition in Taipei."

The adjudication panel this year consisted of Jian Liu – NZSM Head of Piano Studies, Florian Hollerweger – Visiting Lecturer in Music Technology and Juliet Palmer – current Composer in Residence at NZSM. They listened to performances of all 10 finalist works at a special concert held in the Adam Concert Room on Saturday 10 September performed by current students, alumni and local musicians.

Other prizewinners included postgraduates Justin Clarke and Tabea Squire, who had both written for moderately large ensembles, and a short but concentrated work for string quartet by second-year student Salina Fisher. Briar Prastiti was given a 'Special mention' for her piano work Pipe Dreamer. The performer’s prize was awarded to violist Andrew Filmer, while cellist Charlie Davenport was also given a 'special mention'. The prizes totaling $6000 were sponsored through the Lilburn Trust.

"The judges noted the difficulty in choosing the prizewinners, as the standard of pieces was uniformly excellent," Michael Norris adds. "I want to congratulate all finalists in the Composers Competition, which again serves to illustrate the diversity and strength of compositional approaches at the NZSM."