Biography

Born into a musical family in 1985, Natalie spent much of her childhood attending theatre, dance and music rehearsals. Piano lessons began officially at the age of 5 (compositions soon after); cello and clarinet lessons ensued after frequent raids on the instrument store room.

Her high school years saw increased involvement in the community, performing regularly with the Napier Operatic Society, the Hawkes Bay Jazz Club Big Band, the Hawkes Bay Youth Orchestra, the Ionian Singers and various chamber ensembles. In 2001 she achieved Grade 8 piano; in 2003 she was a finalist in the Raewyn Newcombe Physiocare Hawkes Bay Young Musician of the Year, was awarded a France Trust Undergraduate Hawkes Bay Scholarship, and gained ATCL in Clarinet.

Natalie recently graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & International Relations, as well as a Bachelor of Music (first class honours) from the New Zealand School of Music. Winning the inaugural Margaret Woodhouse Memorial Scholarship, Natalie is currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Music, studying musicology and music therapy in addition to composition. She continues to perform with local ensembles and has begun composing her first opera.

Natalie’s woodwind works have been performed by professional musicians and ensembles such as Andrew Uren and Saxcess, while her String Quartet No.1 was workshopped by the New Zealand String Quartet in 2008. She has twice been a finalist in the New Zealand School of Music Composition Competition, was named the NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence for 2009, and won the NZSO/Todd Corporation Young Composer Award the same year. Future aspirations include multi-media collaborations, travelling to the ‘Middle East’ and acquiring her own Double Bass.

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