Composer

Biography

Chris Adams (1979-) is a New Zealand composer and is currently HoD Music at Sancta Maria College. He was the Mozart Fellow (2010-2011) at the University of Otago and the Auckland Philharmonia’s Composer in Residence (2009). Chris was the inaugural University of Otago Wallace Artist in residence at the Pah Homestead from July to September, 2010.

Chris has had works commissioned, performed and read by a wide variety of groups including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, NZ Trio, Auckland Philharmonia, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Jade String Quartet, and Southern Sinfonia. His works have been performed in New Zealand, Italy, and Britain, including at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival; a number have also been broadcast on Radio New Zealand Concert. Composition awards include the Philip Neill Memorial Prize (2008), for his string quartet, Persephone.

In addition to composing and teaching, Chris has much experience as a freelance musician, performing as a singer and violinist, conducting, coaching chamber music and organising concerts. Chris is a strong advocate of new music and is on the committee of the Composers’ Association of New Zealand. He has been a guest tutor at the Nelson Composers’ Workshop and has also mentored composers as part of his role as Composer in Residence with the Auckland Philharmonia.