International win for young composer

Jonathan Crehan has won first prize in the 'Tonal 21st Century' category of the 2009 Classical Marimba League Composition Competition with Bold Spark, a work for marimba and piano.

His prize includes a publication contract with C. Alan Publication as well as live performances and recordings in the next year. The Classical Marimba League, based in the United States, focuses its efforts on 'the inspiration of a renaissance of melodic styles of music for the marimba... endeavor[ing] to establish a legacy of marimba music that honors the notable styles of the past within the creative expression of the present age.'

CML hold an annual Composition Competition in which composers can choose from five instrumental combinations (all including marimba, of course) and five 'styles': Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionism or Tonal 21st Century. 

"I found the competition via the web and applied for it," Jonathan says. "I find it hard to comprehend that I've achieved something big and exciting across the other side of the world, while just sitting around in my Aro Valley home! The CML Competition was a great chance to write a work that was vibrant, exciting and fast and I hope that this win will promote Bold Spark, my music and New Zealand music in general to percussionists all around the globe."