Adam Whiskin

Adam is a Wellington-based musician. He has been composing since he was around 10, and has found a deep passion in it that has been growing ever since. He comes from a very musical family; his father used to be a professional viola player, and now teaches piano, and his grandmother was a nationally renowned pianist and music teacher. He started learning piano and cello at a very young age and picked up composing a bit later. His style has greatly evolved over time, but he mostly composes classical-style compositions for a vast range of ensembles, from solo instruments, to chamber music, to full orchestral works. He has also written his fair share of electronic music, which he has uploaded to online platforms, and composed a few songs.

Adam has won numerous prizes for his compositions, including awards at the IRMT Youth Music Festival, CMNZ Chamber Music Contest, and the Fehl music scholarship at Victoria University. He has also had his works performed at numerous events, including Sounds of Te Koki Concerts at the New Zealand School of Music, workshops with the NZ String Quartet, and numerous competitions.

Adam is currently studying Cell Biology, pursuing a career in biomedical research, although he has also taken numerous composition papers at Victoria University. He finds music to be a fantastic compliment to his science studies, as it engages his creative brain and allows him to express himself in ways he wouldn't be able to otherwise. A large aim with his music is to make classical music more accessible and extend it as a genre, by bringing in modern and cinematic elements. He hopes to keep developing his compositional style, writing larger scale works and trying out different genres. He also has passion for cross-cultural collaboration in composition, and would love the opportunity to experiment more with this.