Tabea Squire wins NYO Residency

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra (NYO) is delighted to announce that Wellington composer, Tabea Squire, has been named the winner of the 4th NYO Composer-in-Residence Award 2008. The award was granted to Tabea for her work Feverdream.

Tabea, currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music, has been a violinist with the NYO since 2005 so will now be unable to play in this year’s season. However, on hearing of the award she said, “The conflict of emotions is surprisingly strong, but above all I’m overjoyed and honoured that the piece I worked on so hard and long has been acknowledged by such a prestigious panel. It is fantastic!”

In addition to having the winning work performed at each of the four NYO concerts, Tabea will receive guidance from 2008 NZSO NYO conductor Jacques Lacombe and mentor Ross Harris. The composer prize also includes Sibelius music writing software, version V5, with free training from MusiTech Ltd as well as a subscription to CANZ.

The 2008 jury panel consisted of Pietari Inkinen (NZSO Music Director), Hamish McKeich (former NZSO contrabassoon and associate conductor), John Psathas (composer and Associate Professor in Composition at the New Zealand School of Music), Ross Harris (Creative New Zealand/Jack C. Richards Composer-in-Residence at the New Zealand School of Music 2007-8) and Jacques Lacombe (International Guest Conductor).

Tabea will be in Wellington when the NYO meets in August to participate in rehearsals of Feverdream and will attend the public concert performances in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Napier.

Tabea was selected from more than a dozen promising applicants, ranging in age from 17 to 24, from Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Wellington, who submitted works of a maximum of 5 minutes. The project was conceived four years ago in order to find new compositional talent, while challenging the composers to complement the wider music strategy of the NZSO.

Commenting on the award, NZSO Music Director, Pietari Inkinen said: “It is fantastic that the NZSO supports a scheme as such as the Composer-in-Residence Award. It has a direct impact on forming the young composers of tomorrow – an educational focus crucial to the development of creativity in this country.”

Tabea’s mentor Ross Harris describes the competition as “a unique opportunity for a young composer to work with excellent young players and an established New Zealand composer.”

Pascale Parenteau, manager of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra said: “It is gratifying to see the standard of entry increasing each year. Tabea’s work will certainly be a highlight of this year’s concerts.”

Principal co-sponsors of the NZSO NYO Composer-in-Residence Award 2008 are MusiTech Ltd (NZ) and Sibelius (UK), supported by APRA, Radio New Zealand Concert, CANZ and SOUNZ.

AGM and Awards Presentation

The CANZ Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 29 March at the Lilburn Residence, Wellington.

Carol Shortis was elected as a new Committee member, while John Psathas and Chris Watson did not seek renomination and were farewelled from the Committee.

Following the AGM, presentations were made to Jenny McLeod (KBB Citation for Services to New Zealand Music) and Gareth Farr (CANZ Trust Fund Award).