Biography

Vivienne Sands, B.Mus (Hons), LRSM. Dip. Secondary Teaching, AIRMT, was born in Dunedin and educated at Otago Girls’High School. After graduating from Otago University she carried out post-graduate studies in composition, assisted by a two-year university travelling scholarship and New Zealand Government bursaries.


In Britain, she studied composition with the Matyas Seiber and Lennox Berkeley, and piano with Lamar Crowson. An Italian Government bursary enabled further study in composition with Luigi Dallapiccola, and in electronic music with Franco Evangelisti.


On returning to New Zealand, she has taught both privately and in secondary schools, and currently has a private teaching practice in Taupo. Her compositions include works for piano, chamber ensembles, orchestra, and electronic media.


Recent works include a string quartet (revised version in 4 movements), a Duo Incontri for two violins, musical arrangements and ballet music for a musical play Song for Sally by Keith Wilson, piano pieces for six hands, Three Tidal Preludes for piano, and an illustrated collection of graded performance pieces for piano and electronic keyboard, Stepping Up.

Selected Works

• Works (8)