Biography

Ross Harris was born in the small town of Amberley in North Canterbury in 1945. He was educated in Christchurch and attended University of Canterbury before moving to Victoria University of Wellington to complete his education. He was appointed a Lecturer in Music at Victoria University in 1971 and has recently taken early retirement to pursue a career as a freelance composer. In the 1960s he played tuba and french horn in the National Youth Orchestra and went on to play french horn in the NZSO. These days he plays jazz french horn and accordion in a klezmer band.

Ross Harris has written well over 100 works including operas, songs, chamber music, electronic music, symphonic music, jazz and klezmer. In 1985 he was awarded a QSM for Public Service following the premiere of his opera Waituhi with libretto by Witi Ihimaera. In 1990 he was awarded the CANZ Citation for Services to New Zealand Music. In 2000 Ross Harris was awarded the SOUNZ Contemporary Award for his chamber work, To the Memory of I.S. Totzka. In 2005-6 Ross was Composer in Residence with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He wrote two symphonies during his residence. The second symphony, with words by Vincent O’Sullivan, was awarded the SOUNZ Contemporary Award in 2006. In 2005 he also won the award with his composition Labyrinth for tuba and orchestra’. He is currently the Creative New Zealand/Jack C. Richards Composer in Residence at the New Zealand School of Music.

Selected Works

• Recordings (1)
• Works (103)
• Awards (15)
• Related Resources (7)