Kenneth Young (born 11 November 1955,

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

) is a composer, conductor, radio presenter and lecturer in composition, conducting and

orchestration Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble, such as a concert band) or of adapting music composed for another medium for an orchestra. Also called "instrumentation", orc ...

at the

New Zealand School of Music The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, at Victoria University of Wellington (NZSM), is located in Wellington, New Zealand. NZSM provides a tertiary teaching faculty with programmes in Classical Performance, Jazz Performance, Music Studies, C ...

Massey University Massey University ( mi, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa) is a university based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with significant campuses in Albany and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 30,883 students, 13,796 of whom are extramural or ...

and

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. The university is well know ...

. As a composer, Young has had works commissioned by New Zealand and Australian orchestras and arts organisations including the

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Wellington, New Zealand. The national orchestra of New Zealand, the NZSO is an autonomous Crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, per the New Zealand Sympho ...

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra 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 New Zealand Opera, NZ Opera and th ...

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is the smallest of the six orchestras established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). History The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestr ...

''New Zealand International Arts Festival'' and ''Chamber Music New Zealand''. He works as a freelance composer and is fully represented by ''SOUNZ: The Centre for New Zealand Music''. In 1976, Young became the principal tuba for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and first conducted the orchestra in 1985 becoming ''Conductor in Residence'' in 1993. In 2001, he resigned from the orchestra to become a full-time conductor, composer and recording artist for orchestras in New Zealand and Australia, as well as engagements in Japan and the United Kingdom. He is well known for his interpretation of Romantic, 20th Century, New Zealand and Australian orchestral repertoire and in 2012 conducted both the winning album, ''Angel at Ahipara'' and finalist album, ''Releasing the Angel'', for ''Best Classical Album'' at the

New Zealand Music Awards The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...

. Young has been recorded by

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

Atoll Records Atoll Records is a New Zealand record label dedicated to classical, historical and contemporary music. About Atoll Records was established by composer and producer Wayne Laird in 1997. Based in Auckland, the label records primarily in Aucklan ...

, Continuum, Trust Records,

ABC Classics ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

and

Naxos Naxos (; el, Νάξος, ) is a Greek island and the largest of the Cyclades. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern times was one of the best abr ...

and is a frequent presenter on ''RESOUND'',

Radio New Zealand Concert RNZ Concert ( mi, Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa Kōnohete) is a publicly funded non-commercial New Zealand FM fine music radio network. Radio New Zealand owns the network and operates it from its Wellington headquarters. The network's playlist of ...

introducing and contextualising work from the RNZ archives. In 2004 was awarded the ''Lilburn Trust Citation'' in Recognition of Outstanding Services to

New Zealand Music The music of New Zealand has been influenced by a number of traditions, including Māori music, the music introduced by European settlers during the nineteenth century, and a variety of styles imported during the twentieth century, including b ...

Biography

Young was born in

in 1955 and completed his schooling in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

Cashmere High School Cashmere High School ( mi, Te iringa o Kahukura) is a state coeducational secondary school, located in southern Christchurch, New Zealand. It was opened in 1956 in response to population growth in southern Christchurch during the 1950s. The sch ...

. He was involved in brass band music, but his music teacher, Frank Dennis, encouraged him to compose, conduct and study music seriously, beyond the brass band movement. Young studied composition at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

and the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...

. During this time he played percussion and tuba for the

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is the largest professional orchestra in the South Island of New Zealand, based in the city of Christchurch. It was established in 1958 as the John Ritchie String Orchestra, due to the vision and encourag ...

and the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra. In 1976 Young was appointed Principal Tuba of the

and conducted the orchestra for the first time in 1985. In 1988, he became a member of the faculty of the

, today a joint department of the

and

where he lectures in conducting and orchestration. In 1991 Young was appointed as the Composer in Residence at the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and in 2001 he resigned from post of Principal Tuba to work full-time as a conductor and composer. In 2004 Young was awarded the ''Lilburn Trust Citation'' in Recognition of Outstanding Services to New Zealand Music.

Activities

Composing

Kenneth Young is officially recognised as one of New Zealand's leading composers and has won awards from the ''Composer's Association of New Zealand'', SOUNZ Contemporary Awards, Radio NZ Concert and Trans-Tasman conductor exchange. He is regularly commissioned by ensembles in New Zealand and Australia including the NZSO, Chamber Music New Zealand, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, BBANZ, the International Festival of the Arts, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington and Radio New Zealand. His compositions have been performed and broadcast in New Zealand, the United States, Europe and Australia. Recent premiers include his ‘Portrait’ for Solo Violin and Orchestra with the NZSO and his Lux Aeterna with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, both to wide critical acclaim. Young has forty-eight commissioned works registered and represented through the Centre for New Zealand Music and twenty-two recordings.

Conducting

Kenneth Young works regularly as a conductor throughout New Zealand and Australia. In New Zealand he works with the

, New Zealand Chamber Orchestra and all regional orchestras including the

and

Orchestra Wellington Orchestra Wellington is New Zealand's oldest professional regional orchestra, based in the capital city of Wellington. It hosts an annual subscription series of concerts in the Michael Fowler Centre, performing varied repertoire from the Classi ...

. In his capacity as conductor, he has recorded with

, Continuum, Trust Records,

and

with Best Classical Album releases in 2002 and 2012. He is widely regarded for his interpretation and recordings of New Zealand composers. These include

Douglas Lilburn Douglas Gordon Lilburn (2 November 19156 June 2001) was a New Zealand composer. Early life Lilburn was born in Whanganui and spent his early years on the family sheep farm in the upper Turakina River valley at Drysdale. He attended Waitaki Bo ...

Edwin Carr Edwin Carr may refer to: * Edwin Carr (composer) Edwin James Nairn Carr (10 August 1926 – 27 March 2003) was a composer of classical music from New Zealand. Biography Edwin Carr was born in Auckland and was educated at Otago Boys' High S ...

David Farquhar David Andross Farquhar (5 April 1928 – 8 May 2007) was a New Zealand composer and professor of music at Victoria University of Wellington. Biography Farquhar was born in Cambridge, New Zealand, in 1928 but spent most of his early years in F ...

Lyell Cresswell Lyell Richard Cresswell (13 October 1944 – 19 March 2022) was a New Zealand composer of contemporary classical music. He was the younger brother of philosopher Max Cresswell. Cresswell studied in Wellington, Toronto, Aberdeen and Utrecht and l ...

Anthony Ritchie Anthony Damian Ritchie (born 18 September 1960) is a New Zealand composer and academic. He has been a freelance composer accepting commissions for works and in 2018 he became professor of composition at The University of Otago after 18 years of ...

Gareth Farr Gareth Vincent Farr (born 29 February 1968) is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and Royal New Zealand Ball ...

Christopher Blake Christopher Blake (born Peter Ronald Gray, 23 August 1949 – 11 December 2004) was an English actor and screenwriter. He is perhaps best remembered for starring in the British sitcoms '' Mixed Blessings'' (1978–80) and '' That's My Boy'' ...

Jack Body John Stanley Body (7 October 1944 – 10 May 2015) was a New Zealand composer, ethnomusicologist, photographer, teacher, and arts producer. As a composer, his work comprised concert music, music theatre, electronic music, music for film and da ...

and many others. He also regularly conducts seasons with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Co. and the Australian Ballet. In Australia Young conducts the

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an Australian orchestra based in Melbourne. The MSO is resident at Hamer Hall. The MSO has its own choir, the MSO Chorus, following integration with the Melbourne Chorale in 2008. The MSO relies on f ...

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra in the state of Queensland. The orchestra is based in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's building in South Bank. The Orchestra is funded by private corporations, the ...

, the

West Australian Symphony Orchestra The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Perth, Western Australia. Its principal concert venue is the Perth Concert Hall. WASO also gives concerts at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. , WA ...

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is a South Australian performing arts organisation comprising 75 full-time musicians, established in 1936. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, the orchestra's primary performance venue is the Adelaide Town Ha ...

and

Orchestra Victoria Orchestra Victoria is a full-time salaried orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia, and wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian Ballet. Founded in 1969, the orchestra is now a principal performance partner for the Australian Ballet, Opera Austra ...

. Engagement further afield include the City of Osaka Sinfonia, and the

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a Scottish broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional rad ...

Teaching

Young was a faculty member at the

— Te Kōkī,

, from 1988 until his retirement in 2019. He lectured in conducting, orchestration and composition. In 2011, he was also appointed at the

's composer mentor, for their "Composer in Residence" programme.

Discography

Composer Discography

The following are selected recordings featuring Kenneth Young as composer. * Waiteata Collection of New Zealand Music Vol. 13 – NZ Piano Music for 4 Hands

Wai-te-ata Music Press Wai-te-ata Music Press is a centre of Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music, that publishes New Zealand sheet music, CDs and other music-related publications. Based at Victoria University of Wellington, the press was established by Douglas Lilbur ...

WTA013 (2012) * GUNG-HO – Virtuoso Works for Trombone David Bremner:

ACD109, (2009), Winner of Best Classical Album,

, 2009 * Matthew Marshall – Still Life with Guitar: Mr M Productions 2009 * New Zealand Chamber Brass – New Zealand Works for Brass Quintet Members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and

* Song of the Black Swan – music for violin and harp Atoll Records, ACD199, Dawn Harms and Carolyn Mills (1999) * Waiteata Collection of New Zealand Music Vol. 13 – NZ Piano Music for 4 Hands

WTA013 (2012) * Woolston Brass: Millennium:CDWB 3896340/01 Woolston Brass (1998)

Conductor Discography

The following are selected recordings featuring Kenneth Young as conductor. *

: Angel at Ahipara:

ACD441,

Strings (2012), ''Winner, Best Classical Album,

, 2012'' *

Eve de Castro-Robinson Eve de Castro-Robinson (born 9 November 1956 in London, England) is a New Zealand composer, professor and graphic designer. Her compositions include orchestral, vocal, chamber and electroacoustic works. She studied at the University of Auckland ...

: Releasing the Angel: Atoll Records ACD141, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra,(2011), ''Finalist, Best Classical Album, New Zealand Music Awards 2012'' * Gareth Farr: From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs: Trust Records MMT2021D (2009) *

: Ruaumoko: Trust Records MMT2042, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra * Gary Daverne: Orchestral Music: Viscount Recordings VRCD 0841 * Gary Daverne: Youth of Auckland:

557 9052 * Island Song: Trust Records MMT2044, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (2010) * Jack Body: Pulse Winner of the 2002 Best Classical Album, New Zealand Music Awards * Landscapes: New Zealand Orchestral Music: Trust Records MMT2037, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra * New Zealand Composers: Continuum CCD 1073-2 , New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (1995) * Parihaka: Trust Records MMT2033, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (2000) * Passing – Asia Pacific Festival 2007:

and

Move Records Move Records is an Australian record label that was started in 1968 by Martin Wright. It concentrates primarily in classical and jazz music, particularly Australian, and most frequently Melbourne-based musicians and composers. Artists Compo ...

MD 3327, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra(2009) * Philip Norman: Peter Pan: Royal New Zealand Ballet , Orchestra Wellington (1999) * Waiteata Collection of New Zealand Music Vol. 4 – Composer Portrait: Ross Harris:

CD WTA004 (1987) * Waiteata Collection of New Zealand Music Vol. 6 – Composer Portrait: Jack Body:

CDWTA006 (2003) * Classic Collection: NZSO in association with SKC

Selected works

''A complete list of works can be found a
SouNZ Centre for New Zealand Music
' * Dance for orchestra * Five Pieces for Solo Piano * Four Questions, No Answers for mixed chamber septet * Lux Aeterna for full orchestra * Piano Concerto for piano and orchestra * Portrait for solo violin and small orchestra * Remembering for violin and orchestra * Symphony No. 2 for orchestra * Virgen de la esperanza for orchestra

Awards

* New Zealand Music Awards: Best Classical Album(2012) Winner: ''Angel at Ahipara''(conductor) * New Zealand Music Awards: Best Classical Album(2012)Finalist: "Releasing the Angel"(conductor) * SOUNZ Contemporary Award Finalist 2012 for ''Four Questions, No Answers'' for chamber ensemble and soprano (composer) * NZSO-SOUNZ-RNZC Recordings Award (2012)(composer) * Trans-Tasman Composer Exchange (2007) (composer) * SOUNZ Contemporary Award Finalist 2005 for ''Symphony No 2'' * Lilburn Trust Citation in Recognition of Outstanding Services to New Zealand Music * CANZ Trust Fund Award (1990)

References

External links

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Koru Artists New Zealand

Creative New Zealand

SOUNZ Center for New Zealand Music
{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Kenneth 1955 births Living people New Zealand composers Male composers New Zealand classical musicians New Zealand conductors (music) Male conductors (music) 20th-century conductors (music) 21st-century conductors (music) People from Invercargill 20th-century male musicians 21st-century male musicians