Composer

Biography

Kenneth Young regards himself as fortunate in having been commissioned by various orchestras and artistic organisations, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Symphonies 1 and 2, Sinfonietta, Dance, Brass Quintet_), Auckland Philharmonia (Piano Concerto_), Southern Sinfonia (Concertino for Horn and Orchestra_), Wellington Youth Orchestra (Virgen de la Esperanza_), International Festival of the Arts (Variations), and Chamber Music New Zealand (Fantasy for Two Pianos, String Quartet, Vignette for brass trio, Five Pieces for piano, Sextet for string quartet, clarinet and piano).

His development as a composer began as a 15 year old while attending Cashmere High School in Christchurch where he came under the influence of his music teacher, Frank Dennis, who sensed an ability beyond Young’s involvement with the brass band movement (an interest he still maintains), encouraging him to write, conduct, and embark on a course of serious music study.

Young began playing both tuba and percussion with the Christchurch Symphony and National Youth Orchestra while studying composition at Canterbury and Auckland Universities, eventually being appointed Principal Tuba of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, a position which gave him the financial independence to freely pursue composition and conducting.

In 2004, Young was awarded a Lilburn Trust Citation Award for Outstanding Services to New Zealand Music. His work Symphony No. 2 was a finalist for the SOUNZ Contemporary Award 2005.