Your cart

Total
NZD
Shipping and discount codes are added at checkout.

Contributor


Ken Wilson

Composer, Performer

Born: 1924 Died: 2012

Biography

Ken Wilson, clarinetist, composer.

He was born in Auckland in 1924 and began music study [clarinet and piano] at 9 years of age. In 1937, he moved to California, USA , with his parents and brother. Attended Los Gatos High School where he continued his musical education, encouraged by staff and external tutors. He played in the school orchestra and outside ensembles. When his father died in 1940, he and his mother and brother were compelled to return to NZ.

He joined the RNZAF Band in 1942, where he played alongside John McCaw [solo clarinet]. He was a founding member of the New Zealand National Orchestra from 1946 to 1957. Soon after, he completed a B.Mus for the University of NZ., having studied composition under Ronald Tremain.

In the early 1960's, he went to Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, to complete graduate studies with Bernhard Heiden [composition], Juan Orrego-Salas [composition], and Henry Gulick [clarinet]. At the same time, he taught clarinet and orchestration as a graduate assistant. He graduated with a Masters in Clarinet Performance, later followed by a D.M.E. During his time in Bloomington, he composed a variety of works, including a suite for concert band subsequently published. In the mid 1960's, he accepted a position as lecturer in music at State University College of New York, Buffalo.

He returned to New Zealand in about 1969 to join the Symphonia of Auckland under the conductor Juan Matteucci. At the same time, he accepted a part-time position as clarinet teacher in the School of Music at Auckland University. Then, in 1980, he held a temporary position as HOD Woodwind at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia.

After his return to New Zealand in 1981, he was a member of the Wellington Sinfonia. In 1998 he retired to Devonport, Auckland, with Elisabeth, his wife.

Ken Wilson died in May 2012.


Composed (13)

Concerto for Clarinet and Strings

for clarinet and string orchestra, 15m


Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon

for Bb clarinet and bassoon


Duo for Two Clarinets (2002)

for two Bb clarinets


Duo for Two Clarinets (2004)

for two Bb clarinets


Introduction, Theme and Variations

for piccolo or flute and string quartet, 10m


Quintet

for wind quintet, 12m


Slow Piece

for four clarinets


Spiderweb

for solo clarinet


Suite for Band

for concert band, 12m


Suite for Brass

for brass ensemble


Variations on a Theme of Paganini

for four clarinets, 5m


Violin Sonata

for violin and piano


Wind Octet

for wind octet, 13m



Recordings (1)