Salina Fisher wins SOUNZ Contemporary Award two years in a row
NZSM graduate Salina Fisher has won the 2017 SOUNZ Contemporary Award with her work Tōrino, written for the New Zealand String Quartet based on transcriptions of pūtōrino improvisations by Rob Thorne.
Salina (b.1993), who also won the prestigious composition award last year with Rainphase, is the youngest ever winner of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award. She is also the youngest woman ever nominated for the Award, this year for the second time. The winner was announced at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards held at the Dunedin Town Hall on Thursday 28 September.
Salina is currently studying for an MA in Composition at the Manhattan School of Music in New York and was not present at the event. Taonga pūoro artist and current NZSM composer-in-residence Rob Thorne accepted the award, presented by composer Gareth Farr, on Salina’s behalf.
Tōrino is inspired by the voices of the taonga pūoro instrument pūtōrino. The work was commissioned in 2016 by Chamber Music New Zealand for performance by the New Zealand String Quartet, NZSM's ensemble in residence, and it will represent New Zealand at the ISCM World New Music Days 2017 in Canada.
Salina studied composition and violin at the New Zealand School of Music. Her works have been performed both in NZ and internationally, including performances by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Stroma New Music Ensemble and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. The rising young composer was the 2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence, and the 2014-15 Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's 'Rising Star' Young Composer-in-Residence. Her 2016 SOUNZ Contemporary Award winning work, Rainphase, was selected for the 2016 NZSO-RNZ Concert-SOUNZ Recordings.
See the award being presented by NZSM alumnus Gareth Farr here, and listen to Tōrino performed by the New Zealand String Quartet below.
SALINA FISHER: Tōrino – echoes on pūtōrino improvisations by Rob Thorne from SOUNZ on Vimeo.