Wellington composer wins

Press, 10 July 1985, Page 18

Wellington composer wins

A Wellington-based composer, Michael Vinten, has won the nationwide Commercial Union Assurance Young Composers’ Competition organised by the Wellington Youth Orchestra. Recently appointed musical director of the N.Z.S.O. trainee orchestra, the Schola Musica, Mr Vinten will receive a cash prize of $5OO and the chance to have his work “Ritual Songs” performed by the Youth Orchestra in September. For the 28-year-old composer, the win has added significance as he first suggested the idea of the com-

position contest when he was a member of the youth orchestra in 1977. The contest attracted a record 21 entries from throughout New Zealand. Open to composers under 30, the contest is for entrants to submit an original 10-minute score suitable for performance by the Wellington Youth Orchestra. The chairman of the judg-

ing panel and the orchestra’s musical director, Mr William Southgate, said that the standard of all the entries had risen markedly over previous years. “While Michael Vinten’s entry was a clear winner, it was difficult to select a runner-up, from the eight semi-finalists. We have, therefore, agreed with Commercial Union, the competition’s sponsors, to provide

four merit awards, each of $125.” Mr Southgate said that Mr Vinten’s composition possessed a “stamp of authority, which set it apart from all the other entries.” Runners-up were Helen Mountfort (Wellington), Eve de Castro Robinson (Auckland), Bruce Crossman (Dunedin), and David Liebert (Christchurch).