Helen Bowater (b. 16 Nov 1952) is a

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composer. She was born in

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into a musical family, and studied piano and violin with Gwyneth Brown. In 1982 she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in music history and ethnomusicology from Victoria University of Wellington. She continued her studies in electroacoustic music with Ross Harris and in composition with Jack Body. Bowater played in the Gamelan Padhang Moncar at Victoria University and her composition ''Tembang Matjapat'' (1999) is scored for gamelan and western strings and percussion instruments. After completing her studies, Bowater worked as a singer, pianist and violinist with ensembles and choirs, and also worked in rock bands Extra Virgin Orchestra and pHonk and with the Victoria University

Gamelan Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...

Padhang Moncar. She completed residencies at the Nelson School of Music and the

Otago University , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

in 1993, and was composer-in-residence with the

Auckland Philharmonia The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) is a symphony orchestra based in Auckland, New Zealand. Its principal concert venue is the Auckland Town Hall. The APO is the accompanying ensemble for performances by NZ Opera and the Royal New Zealan ...

in 1994, and at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University, in 2008-09. Bowater has published professional articles in journals including ''Music in New Zealand''. Her music has been performed internationally.

Honors and awards

*Auckland Philharmonia Graduate Composer Workshops 1992 *Mozart Fellowship at Otago University 1993 *Auckland Philharmonia Composer in Residence 1994 *CANZ Trust Fund Award 1997 *SOUNZ Contemporary Award 1999 *SOUNZ Community Commission 2001 *NZSO-SOUNZ Readings 2003 *NZSO-SOUNZ Readings 2006 *Creative New Zealand/Jack C Richards Composer Residency, New Zealand School of Music 2008

Works

Selected works include: *''Banshee'' for two violins, cello and piano *''He does not come'', setting of 5 poems for soprano and ensemble *''Ixion's Wheel'' for B flat clarinet and piano *''Lautari'' for solo violin *''New Year Fanfare'' for orchestra *''River of Ocean'' for full orchestra *''Urwachst'' for orchestra *''Wire Dogs'' for solo piano *''Nekhbet'' for solo piano *''Monkey'' for Chinese sheng, Gamelan Padhang Moncar, singer, and string quartet

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowater, Helen 1952 births Living people 20th-century classical composers Women classical composers New Zealand classical composers Victoria University of Wellington alumni People from Wellington City 20th-century women composers