Biography

Chris Adams gained his MMus in Composition from the University of Auckland in 2007, studying under John Elmsly and Eve de Castro-Robinson. Since then, he has had works performed by the Jade Quartet, Silencio, Gate Seven, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Christ’s College Choir, the University of Auckland Orchestra and by chamber groups at the University of Auckland. In 2008, his string quartet, Persephone, won the Philip Neill Memorial Prize.

After graduating from Canterbury with a BMus Hons (Compostion) in 2000, where he studied with John Cousins and Chris Cree Brown, his works have been performed in New Zealand and Britain, including at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Nelson Composers’ Workshop, the Auckland Philharmonia Reading Workshop and by the Wellington Youth Orchestra. His works for orchestra have been broadcast on Radio New Zealand Concert, most recently In Memoriam, in May 2007.

Chris has written for and worked with, as a singer and violinist, leading young New Zealand ensembles including the Christchurch Cathedral Godley Choral Scholars, 1997-1999, the National Youth Orchestra and the Tower New Zealand Youth Choir for two international tours.

He taught music at St Margaret’s College, Christchurch, from 2004 to 2005, and has been the HoD Music at Liston College, Auckland since 2007. Chris is currently the Auckland Philharmonia Composer in Residence.

Selected Works

• Works (30)
• Awards (4)