Michael Norris Wins the 2014 SOUNZ Contemporary Award

Michael Norris Wins the 2014 SOUNZ Contemporary Award

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music and APRA AMCOS are delighted to announce that Wellington composer Michael Norris has won the 2014 SOUNZ Contemporary Award with Inner Phases for Chinese instrument ensemble and string quartet.

Michael Norris is a Wellington-based composer, software programmer and music theorist. He holds composition degrees from Victoria University of Wellington and City University, London, and is currently Senior Lecturer in Composition at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) at Victoria University of Wellington. This is the fourth time his work has been nominated for the SOUNZ Contemporary Award. His past nominated works were TIMEDANCE (2013), Volti (2009) and Rays of the Sun, Shards of the Moon (2004).

The SOUNZ Contemporary Award celebrates excellence in contemporary composition and was this year presented for the 17th time. The winner was announced at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards event at TSB Arena in Wellington on Thursday 30 October. The winner received an award, consisting of a trophy and cash prize.

“Michael’s Inner Phases is quite an extraordinary piece of music that blends instruments from two very different cultures with outstanding skill and imagination”, says SOUNZ Executive Director Julie Sperring. “The judging panel noted that the piece creates a sound world ‘to lose yourself in’, is highly expressive and beautifully constructed. It’s wonderful that Michael’s work has been recognised through the SOUNZ Contemporary Award.”

The SOUNZ Contemporary Award, presented in partnership with APRA, has been awarded since 1998, recognising New Zealand compositions that demonstrate outstanding levels of creativity and inspiration. Composers who are members of APRA are invited to enter up to two works, which have been premiered in the previous year publicly, recorded for radio broadcast or by a recognised recording label for distribution, or performed by a professional orchestra in a professional development situation. The works can be for solo, chamber, ensemble, choral, opera, orchestral, electro-acoustic or any combination of these.

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