Biography
Leonie Holmes is an Auckland based composer, writing for orchestra, chamber, choral, vocal and solo instrument. Recent works have been commissioned and/or performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, BBC singers, ensemble paladino, Aventa Ensemble Canada, Zephyr Wind Quintet, NZ Trio, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, Toronto Children’s Choir, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Estrella Quartet and Jade String Quartet. Her orchestral music has been released on the Atoll CD “Solstice”, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marc Taddei, and a compilation of chamber music appears on the CD “…when expectation ends”, featuring NZ Trio, Zephyr, Estrella, Strata Quartet and other solo artists. Leonie is currently Senior Lecturer in Composition and Music studies at the School of Music, University of Auckland.
Stemming from her work as Composer-in-Schools in the 1990s, she is also interested in music education and in developing a musical language that will engage and challenge non-professional players. She has written many works for school and community groups and is active as a speaker, adjudicator and teacher at all levels and age groups within the New Zealand music community.
Leonie has been Composer-in-Residence at the Nelson School of Music 1986, Composer-in-Schools 1989, Composer-in-Residence with the Auckland Philharmonia 1997, and Composer-in-Residence with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra in 2005. She was awarded the CANZ Trust Fund for Compositional Development in 1991, a Certificate for Contribution to Music in the Auckland Region from the NZSO and Symphony Friends in 1993, and the Philip Neill Memorial Prize in Composition, University of Otago in 2001. Leonie was a member of the Composers Committee, Centre for New Zealand Music (SOUNZ) 1996-1997, co-ordinator of the Nelson Composers Workshop 2001-2002, and is a member of the Composers Association of New Zealand (CANZ).
2018 saw Leonie nominated as a finalist for the SOUNZ Contemporary Award. For Just a Little Moment was commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and premiered by the orchestra during a COVID-19 lockdown in November 2020.Holmes's Piano Concerto was commissioned by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra who performed its first public premiere in October 2023.
Composed (63)
for mezzo-soprano, baritone, chamber choir, SATB choir, piano, organ and two percussionists, 7m
Recordings (8)
Resources (13)
Interview
Performances (6)
A Feast of NZ Music for Double Reed Ensemble, featuring the Final of the NZDRS Composition Compet...
The University of Auckland School of Music contemporary ensemble The Karlheinz Company celebrates...
__Giordano Bellincampi__ | Conductor __Michael Endres__ | Piano __Leonie Holmes__ | _For...
__Stephen De Pledge__ | piano __Benjamin Northey__ | conductor ___ __Programme:__ ...
Conductor Giordano Bellincampi Violin Clara-Jumi Kang Leonie Holmes For just a little moment... ...
Umberto Clerici Conductor Stephen De Pledge Piano Brahms Academic Festival Overture Leonie H...