Finalists chosen for Songwriter of the Year comp

Finalists chosen for University of Auckland Songwriter of the Year competition

The next wave of New Zealand’s most talented songwriters and performers will be showcased at The University of Auckland’s Songwriter of the Year 2010 competition on 29 September.

Six emerging artists currently studying popular music at the School of Music will perform their original songs, backed by a professional band, competing for major prizes courtesy of MusicWorks, Juice TV, Kiwi FM and Beaver Studios.

The finalists (Janine Foster, Earl Ho, Rose Howcroft, Phil Kim, Tamsyn Miller and Martin Paris) were chosen at the semi-finals in July. They have honed their lyrics and performance skills in preparation for the grand final under the tutelage of leading music industry specialists including Sean James Donnelly (SJD) - 2010 Songwriter in Residence at the School of Music.

Adam Stevenson from Juice TV who helped judge the semi-finals says: “The diversity shown by the 13 semi-finalists was a standout feature of the night. As far as musical variety goes it will all be on show at the Maidment Theatre for the finals.”

On competition night, the finalists will compete for $1500 worth of music vouchers from MusicWorks. The winners will be selected by industry judges Jan Hellriegel (General Manager Native Tongue Music Publishing), producer Simon Holloway (Beaver Studios), Stuart Seager (Juice TV) and a representative of Kiwi FM. The competition will be featured on Juice TV and Beaver Studios will record and master a single for the winning songwriter.

Stephen Matthews, coordinator of the Popular Music programme, says: “The School of Music’s Popular Music major is a fertile creative setting for aspiring musicians looking to develop their songwriting, arranging and performance skills. Students work alongside award-winning professional songwriters and musicians, meet an array of fellow musicians, share musical ideas and perform their own and each other’s new songs on a weekly basis.”

The concert also features the winning solo artists chosen from the Songwriter of the Year: Schools Competition held in June this year. Talented young musicians Massad-Barakat Devine (Sacred Heart College) and Jayme Fitzgerald (Tauhara College) will each perform a set of their original songs.

The University of Auckland Songwriter of the Year 2010 competition
Wednesday 29 September at 7.30pm
Maidment Theatre (8 Alfred Street).

For information visit www.creative.auckland.ac.nz/songwriter

The Finalists:
Phil Kim - A 20-year-old North Shore resident who has a varietal style. He has a classical piano performance background and his goal is to write a multi-genre album.
Janine Foster - A 20-year-old Grey Lynn resident with a synthetic-pop style who started out on acoustic guitar.
Rose Howcroft - A 20-year-old Newton resident with a folk-indie style and winner in “Smokefree Rockquest” and “Pacifica Beats” competitions including five female musicianship prizes.
Martin Paris - A 24-year-old Mt Albert resident with an adult contemporary style, brought up with a musical family and son of one of the Yandall sisters.
Tamsyn Miller - A 21-year-old Avondale resident, originally from Havelock North, she has been strongly influenced by a musical theatre and choral background.
Earl Ho - A 19-year-old Papakura resident with an alternative pop/rock style and an unconventional, sometimes comedic, songwriter.

The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.

ENDS