Force of Nature: Forest & Bird’s Composition Scholarship

Force of Nature: Forest & Bird’s Composition Scholarship

Forest & Bird and the Performing Arts Community Trust (PACT) is proud to offer a chamber music composition scholarship for a young composer (aged under 25 on 1 September 2021).

Applicants will compose a work for a chamber music ensemble that focuses on any aspect of Forest & Bird’s role in protecting and restoring Aotearoa’s wildlife and wild places over the past 100 years.

The successful applicant will receive a $500 scholarship, the opportunity to work with professional New Zealand composers, and have your composition played by leading musicians. Your work may also be included in an Atoll Records recording alongside other original music created by the eight composers involved in this exciting project (see Background below).

If you love music and nature, this scholarship is for you, we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Application requirements:

  • You may use any or all of the following instruments: 1 flute, 1 clarinet, 1 violin, 1 cello, piano, and small percussion for 1 player (commonly used instruments that can be easily carried by one person);
  • The work must be between 3–5 minutes in duration;
  • The work is to be played by professional musicians but the notation should not be unreasonably complex;
  • Your submission must be made electronically by emailing pactnz@gmail.com, and must include full score, edited parts, good quality audio recording, and a completed copy of the attached entry form. The audio recording must be of the music being played live and may be recorded on a device such as phone, tablet etc.

The applications will be assessed by Wayne Laird and Peter Scholes on behalf of Forest & Bird and PACT (The Performing Arts Community Trust) and one composition will be selected for the scholarship.

The successful composition shall be available to PACT, who will manage the scholarship, and will be considered for performance, recording, and broadcast.

APPLICATIONS close on 31 October 2021. Results will be sent by email on or before 20 December 2021. For an application form, please email: Jenni Murphy-Scanlon, CEO PACT, at pactnz@gmail.com.

BACKGROUND: Forest & Bird has been protecting and restoring nature in New Zealand for nearly 100 years. To celebrate a century of conservation in New Zealand, the Performing Arts Community Trust is working with Forest & Bird on a unique project that combines music, history, and nature. PACT has received funding from Creative New Zealand towards the creation, performance, and recording of eight new chamber works in collaboration with Forest & Bird.