L to R: Ben Hoadley (winner), Abby Pinkerton and Colin Decio (highly commended).
SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, together with the Brass Band Association of New Zealand, is proud to announce the winner and finalists of the SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize 2020.
Winner: Ben Hoadley, with ‘Haratua’ for trombone and piano
Ben writes: “I am thrilled to receive the SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize in 2020. I have loved exploring the wide expressive possibilities of brass instruments in my composition, and the trombone is one of my favourite instruments. The opportunity to hear how my piece will interpreted at the BBANZ Championships is very special.”
About the piece: ‘Haratua’ (May) is a short work that explores the lyricism of the tenor trombone. It is reminiscent of the stillness and solitude felt by New Zealanders during Level 4 lockdown over April and May 2020.
Highly Commended:
Abby Pinkerton, with ‘Crevices’ for trombone and piano
Abby writes: “Thank you! I am delighted to have received the award of Highly Commended. Thank you also for this opportunity to create music, the SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize has provided great inspiration which has been especially meaningful during a time of lockdown.”
Colin Decio, with ‘Barcarolle’ for cornet and piano
Colin writes: “I am truly delighted to have been highly commended for my Barcarolle for cornet and piano, it has made my day.”
This year’s adjudicator was Anthony Ritchie, Professor of composition and Head of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Otago. Recordings of the three works will be broadcast during the New Zealand Virtual Brass Band Championship livestream in July, hosted by brassbanned.com, and will subsequently be available on the SOUNZ YouTube channel. Scores and parts of each work will shortly be available for sale from SOUNZ.
