Composition

NZCF-SOUNZ Choral Composition Competition
 

This competition was introduced by the New Zealand Choral Federation to mark the third millennium, with a trophy presented by NZCF Auckland Region. The competition is run in conjunction with SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music and awards a prize for the best choral piece composed by a New Zealand secondary school student.
The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $250 supported by SOUNZ.
SOUNZ and NZCF will also work together to facilitate either a live performance or a video recording of the winning composition for The Big Sing Finale 2023 in Auckland.
The adjudicator for 2023 was Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead. Read Dame Gillian's biography. 

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SOUNZ-NZCF Te Reo Māori Choral Composition Award

This award, initiated by SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, was introduced in 2021 and aims to encourage young composers to write choral settings of texts in Te Reo Maori. The winning composer will receive a trophy - a taonga, kindly donated by SOUNZ, in the form of a beautiful pūtōrino Te Pūoho Ki Te Rangi carved by taonga puoro player/composer and maker Tāmihana Kātene.
The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $250 supported by SOUNZ.
SOUNZ and NZCF will also work together to facilitate either a live performance or a video recording of the winning composition for The Big Sing Finale 2023 in Auckland.
The adjudicator for 2023 was Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead, who wrote:   "The standard of entries was in my opinion very high. Everyone showed merit and an understanding of how to write for voice. The variety of subject matter and style was wonderfully wide-ranging. What is impressive in the prize-winning pieces is the overall sense of planning, whether deliberate or instinctive......I’ve really enjoyed judging this competition, and I look forward to hearing your music in the future."

And regarding the Te Reo Māori composition award, Dame Gillian wrote:       "It’s very good to see new pieces in te reo Māori appearing in this competition. It’s a different skill, and a challenge, setting words in different languages. I was impressed by the work of the two place-getters."

 

NZCF-SOUNZ Choral Composition Competition 2023 Results:

1st Prize - Matilda Faamausili, Westlake Girls' High School, for "Dover Beach"
2nd= Prize - Declan Squire, Westlake Boys' High School, for "The Fisherman"
2nd= Prize  - Ameera Woods, Rangi Ruru Girls' School, for "Videre Frem"
3rd= Prize - Louisa Boyer, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, for "Lamentum"
3rd= Prize - Sea-am Thompson, St Andrew's College, for "In the beginning"

SOUNZ-NZCF Te Reo Māori ​​​​​Choral Composition Award 2023 Results:

1st Prize - Bella Allan-Moetaua, Westlake Girls' High School, for "Ko tangi o rū poūa"
2nd Prize - Joshua Brown, Auckland Grammar School, for "He Waiata Whaiwhakaaro"

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