Biography

Andrew Perkins was born in Warkworth, New Zealand, 31 December, 1961.

He attended Auckland University from 1980 till 1985, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Music (1983) then the degree of Master of Music (Hons) 1985 majoring in Composition. His Composition teachers were Dr John Rimmer and Dr Douglas Mews (Senior) and visiting Fellow Lou Harrison. His other Masters papers were Advanced Analysis and Criticism (with Dr Fiona McAlpine), Advanced Orchestration (John Rimmer), and Fugue Writing (Douglas Mews). As a fully trained teacher, Andrew Perkins has taught Music in England (St Bedes School, Eastbourne), was one of the foundation staff members of ACG Senior College of New Zealand as Director of Music Studies from 1995 till 2004. He is currently Head of Music at Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, Auckland.

Andrew Perkins has appeared every year as guest lecturer at Auckland University, lecturing in Music, and more recently to the Mathematics Department on the relationship Music has with Mathematics and to the School of Architecture on Proportion in Music and Buildings. During 1986 he was elected as NZIAA’s cultural ambassador, representing New Zealand at the Eleventh General Assembly, Baghdad, Iraq, on the subject of Peace and the Artist. Andrew Perkins is also Music Director and Cantor of the Auckland Catholic Schola who specialize in the performance of sacred music from the Medieval, Renaissance and early Baroque periods. All the music is performed within the context of the Roman Catholic Mass. Andrew Perkins writes all the psalm settings for the choir and motets in Renaissance style as required by the Schola.

Andrew Perkins’ compositions are usually highly exotic, and colourful, focussing on the weaving of melodic strands similar to the concepts behind Renaissance polyphony. He employs non-Western scales and complex rhythmic structures.

Selected Works

• Works (45)
• Awards (1)
• Resources (1)