UOW students named Australian composers of the future

Dec 09, 2004

Three of the University of Wollongong's most talented music students have certainly 'struck a chord'.

Honours graduates Serena Vashti Armstrong and Rhiannon Cook (daughter of UOW's Dean of Engineering, Professor Chris Cook), and third year student Brent Williams, have each been recognised for their 'exceptional' musical ability and selected to participate in the 2005 MODART project initiated by The Song Company and the Australian Music Centre.

MODART provides opportunities for young emerging composers and creates a greater awareness of the possibilities of acapella vocal works. The intensive workshops will begin in late January 2005.

Following a national call for submission earlier this year, 12 composers from across the country, and one from Hong Kong, were selected to participate in the workshops that will take place under the guidance of The Song Company's Artistic Director, Roland Peelman, and New Zealand composer and performer-in-residence with The Song Company, Gareth Farr.

Ms Armstrong, Ms Cook and Mr Williams will work with renowned international ensembles and will have the opportunity to have their compositions workshopped, discussed and performed publicly at the highest level, as well as nationally broadcast on ABC Classic FM.

For the Song Company and the Australian Music Centre, MODART provides new repertoire, the potential for ongoing relationships with emerging composers and an enhanced understanding of the diversity and quality of emerging Australian compositional voices.

MODART will culminate in a public performance in Sydney and Melbourne in September 2005.

-RP