Barry Conyngham

Australian composer Barry Conyngham studied with Peter Sculthorpe and Toru Takemitsu. He is Emeritus Professor at the University of Wollongong and at Southern Cross University, where he was Foundation Vice-Chancellor (1994–2000). He was the first musician to hold the Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University (2000–2001), and has held Churchill, Harkness and Fulbright fellowships. In 1997 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

With premieres and performances across Japan, the Americas, Europe, the UK and Australia, he ranks among Australia’s most widely heard international composers. He has more than seventy published works and over thirty recordings, including performances by the London, New Zealand, Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and ensembles from Japan, Europe, America and Australia.

Recent premieres include the orchestral Cala Tuent (2008) in Spain, Australia and Hong Kong, and the double-bass concerto Kangaroo Island (MD 3455) (2009) in the United States. 2011 brought Fallingwater for two bassoons and orchestra, Showboat Kalang for the Australia Ensemble, and Gardener of Time (MD 3455) for the Melbourne Symphony. In November 2012 his first Symphony, commissioned by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, was first performed at the Sydney Opera House.

In May 2014 Dry Spell…Deluge (MD 3455) was premiered in Vienna by Ensemble Reconsil, followed in August by ANZAC, a large reflection on war and national character for nine soloists and symphony orchestra.

Artist's website: conyngham.net