Keith Moss

Keith Moss was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and received his formal music training in Port Elizabeth focusing on piano performance at the Nelson Mandela University. In 2007 he completed a Masters degree in composition under Péter Louis van Dijk at Rhodes University. He is a full-time composer and has engaged in various activities associated with the occupation of writing, scoring and arranging throughout South Africa. He was the director of the new music ensemble The Paz Consort for seven years, formed in 2009 to promote and perform new works by young South African composers. After establishing itself [Paz] in Gauteng the group premiered over 24 new compositions for various ensembles from almost as many composers.

In 2010 he won the prestigious SAMRO Overseas Scholarship, South Africa’s largest prize for composition allowing him to travel and continue his work in the United Kingdom. He participated in master classes with the heads of composition at The Royal College of Music, The Guildhall School of Music, The Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Cardiff. In 2012 he was the first recipient of the Stefans Grové National competition for composition for his Trio written for Flute, Oboe and Clarinet which has now become the Masters compulsory work for wind players at the Padua Music Conservatory in Italy. His doctoral creative output was awarded the Faculty prize at the University of Pretoria where he completed his degree in 2017 under Prof. Alexander Johnson. In 2016 he was composer-in-residence for the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival, and in the same year he won the Grové competition for a second time with a choral work, the moon is hiding in her hair. In 2018 Keith’s work Wild Horses don’t Break for orchestra, was selected and performed at the inaugural São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival in Brazil alongside a recording of the chamber work, Sextett Nº1. The Wairua Sinfonietta closed their 2019 season with one of Keith’s largest works for soprano, choir and orchestra, The Eventide, in the Auckland Concert Chamber.

Dr Keith Moss has been regularly commissioned by various organisations including SAMRO, the International Horn Society and by various tertiary institutions including the OSM Camerata. He has been the program director of music for the Cool Capital Biennale 2014, an adjudicator for the National Eisteddfod of the Arts 2015 and the editor/designer for the Unisa Music Directorate. He has been the conductor and music director for the Wellington City Concert Band in 2019.

Keith received the SOUNZ commission for Sistema Youth Orchestra in 2024 and performed by Orchestra Wellington.

Currently Keith is the Scheduling Executive of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, as well as an Alexander Technique Teacher, giving private lessons from his studio in Wellington.