Ross Harris, the composer, taught at Victoria University of Wellington Music Department for over thirty years and has worked as a freelance composer since 2004.
Composition History
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra has premiered five symphonies and the Cello Concerto by Ross Harris, all written for the orchestra, over nine years.
Composition History
Ross Harris's Cello Concerto was inspired by the playing of cellist Li-Wei Qin and funded by Christopher Marshall.
Critical Reception
Ross Harris has won the SOUNZ Contemporary Award, New Zealand's most prestigious annual music prize, four times and been a finalist eight times in its 15-year history.
Compositional Technique
The Cello Concerto is in one continuous movement, but it is divided into clear sections that include rhythmic dance parts and lyrical meditations.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Symphony No. 4 is a musical portrait of Mahinārangi Tocker, a Māori/Jewish composer, poet, and songwriter, representing the shared musical curiosity between her and Ross Harris.
Composition History
Symphony No. 4, 'To the Memory of Mahinārangi Tocker', was commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and funded by Creative New Zealand.
