In this series, we present our new composers. We are proud to introduce Amy Lambert.
Kia ora Amy, please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
Kia ora!
I'm born and raised in Auckland and have been blessed to be taught by many amazing composers, musicians and teachers during my music journey. I completed my Bachelor's in Music and Master's in composition at the University of Auckland with second class honours earlier this year, receiving teaching from Dr Leonie Holmes, Dr Chris Gendall and Dr David Chisholm. I am now a part of the Auckland School's Teacher Training Programme, run by the University of Waikato, completing my Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching whilst teaching at Long Bay College.
I grew up playing the piano, however my passion for composition grew in high school, receiving teaching from New Zealand composer David Hamilton. I also gained a passion for singing during this time, joining premiere choirs and having the privilege of touring Brisbane in 2017 and Italy in 2018. A highlight of my music journey would have to be singing a mass composed by David Hamilton in the Vatican in Rome, as well as singing in multiple churches, cathedrals and historic buildings all across Italy. After high school I joined Auckland Youth Choir and Chamber choir touring Sydney in 2019, singing in the Sydney Opera House - another very special memory.
I have a huge passion for composing choral music, however, some of my best pieces are written for string quartet, chamber ensembles and solo instruments. A lot of my music paints a picture, tells a story or reflects on a significant moment in my life. I also love New Zealand music, specifically landscape music. From the beginning of my composition journey, I have always been drawn Douglas Lilburn's music and his expressive ways of painting the landscapes of Aotearoa.
I've been lucky enough to have my work performed and workshopped by members of the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, The University of Auckland Chamber Choir, Cantare, the premiere choir from Westlake Girls Highschool and St Cuthbert’s string orchestra. I was also honoured to be the winner of the Llewelyn Jones Prize in Music for Piano at The University of Auckland in 2022 with my piece ‘Conscience’.
Please choose 2-3 of your works and tell us more about them.
She Walks in Beauty
I was privileged enough to compose a piece for Cantare, the premiere all-girls choir at Westlake Girls High School She Walks in Beauty, for SSAA choir and piano. This piece is very special to me and was an honour to write as I was a member of this choir during my time in high school. Set to the text 'She Walks in Beauty' by Lord Byron, this piece reflects the beauty of a woman - "like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies". Using a range of cluster harmonies, textures, and techniques, this piece captures not only the beauty of this woman, but the female voice also.
Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss
Another piece I thoroughly enjoyed composing was my final project of my Bachelor of Music in 2021. In collaboration with violinist Haeun Cho, I composed Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss for solo violin and electronics. This piece tells the story of Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, a sculpture created by Italian artist Antonio Canova. Head of School of Music at the University of Auckland, David Chisholm, provided the requirements for this project. We had to identify a non-musical artwork of our choice that speaks to the subject of Love, incorporate a musical work from the listening list provided, and select a short single line musical extract from one of your first-year compositions of no more than 8 bars length. This piece received the highest grade in the history of this project and was additionally professionally recorded by SOUNZ later that year.
What are you working on at the moment? (If you can’t talk about that yet: what have you completed recently and when will people be able to hear it?
Unfortunately, due to the craziness of completing my teaching diploma and working full time I'm not working on anything new at the moment. However, I am hoping to start a new choral work soon and have actually been drawn back to one of my recent pieces that I was never completely satisfied with. I am also hoping to have my piece 'He is Risen' for chamber orchestra recorded at some stage! This is a piece I composed as a part of my masters portfolio and is my largest scale piece so far taking about 6 months to write. Telling the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, this piece is full of drama, sorrow, and joy, using a large variety of techniques, textures and sounds to convey the story.
Where can people connect with you?
Over on Instagram at @amy_lambert_xo