Personal
Born: 18th June 1984
Rachel E. Merton has studied piano from the age of four,
percussion from the age of ten and composition
from the age of twelve. Rachel achieved prize winning awards
for her compositions each year in the ASME
Young Composers Competition from 1997 - 2001, as well as
winning the A.G. Francis Composition Prize in
2002 for setting poetry written by Ursula Vaughan Williams to
music.
Currently completing her fourth year of a Bachelor of Music Degree
majoring in Composition at the QLD
Conservatorium of Music, Rachel intends to continue to
be involved in the community with her musical
writing. She also teaches Piano, Percussion, General music
and Mini Beats early childhood music lessons
at the Cleveland Music Studio.
As well as being Head Percussionist in the Cleveland Symphony
Orchestra, Rachel has performed
extensively in the Redlands area. As a Composer , she has had
works performed in Adelaide, Brisbane,
Melbourne and Sydney with ensembles like The Song Company,
the Zephyr Quartet, the Adelaide
Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Inc.,
the Young Conservatorium Symphony and
inclusions in The Firms composers concerts. Her
works have also aired on ABC Classic FM, 4MBS, and
Bay FM.
Education
1988 - Began piano at age 4
1994 - Started percussion at
age 10
1997 - Head Percussionist in the
Cleveland Symphony Orchestra inc.
1997 - 2001 Attended Capalaba State
High School
1997-2001 Attended Young
Conservatorium at QCGU studying composition with Stephen Leek
2000- Completed 6th grade
AMEB Piano ( Studied with Nick Negerevich )
2001 - Completed grade 8
Trinity Percussion (Studied with Lucas Gordon )
2001 - Attended MOST 2001
Scholarship (Musically Outstanding Students) for percussion.
2002 - First year, Bachelor of
Music QCGU studying Composition with Alan Walker and Stephen Cronin.
2003 - Second year, Bachelor of
Music QCGU studying Composition with Stephen Cronin.
2004 - Third year, Bachelor of
Music QCGU studying Composition with Stephen Cronin and Gerard Brophey.
Employment
1998 Savoyards Musical Theater
Company
During 1998 I worked as a
percussionist / drum kit player for their production of “The Merry
Widow”. I took all my own equipment to all performances.
1999 - 2001 Donald Simpson Jazz
Ensemble
Performing on drum kit, I worked
with Nick Negerevich, John Tucker, Phil Davis and other talented
musicians to help raise funds for the Donald Simpson Center.
2001 Tutorial
Conducted a percussion tutorial at
Hilliard State Primary School.
2003 Self Employed
Offered percussion, drum kit
lessons and piano lessons.
2004 Cleveland Music Studio
Currently employed teaching piano,
percussion, and general music classes.
2003
-2004 Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Inc.
Commissioned
by the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra to compose an orchestral work about
the Redlands Shire. The work entitled ‘Redlands’ was performed in
August
2004.
Achievements
ASME Young
Composers Competition:
1997 Seasons small chamber
group 3rd placing
1998 Olympic Tribute
orchestral 2nd placing
1999 La Chatte violin and
piano 3rd placing
2000 Struggles of the Mind
string quartet 2nd placing*
2001 Angular World
orchestral 1st placing
*Struggles of the Mind was
workshopped in Adelaide in 2000 with the ASO and also with an arranged
string quartet for the ASME National Conference that year. Was also
performed in 2003 by the Zephyr String Quartet in Adelaide featured in
‘‘The Firm’ composers concert.
2002 A.G. Francis Composers Prize:
(QLD Conservatorium) for the work 'Spider' for Baritone
and Piano - Student Composer's settings of poetry by Ursula
Vaughan Williams.
2004 Fellowship of Australian
Composers Award: for most promising composition.
Compositions
Works Written 2002:
Discord orchestral work 3
min 15
Salvage piano solo 7 min 09
Spider** Baritone and piano
1min 40
The Thunder is Silenced
electronic acoustic work (CD and voice) 4 min 21
Conquest three trumpets 4
min 09
Une Chanson d’Oiseau flute
solo 3 min 33
High Density High School
Stage Band 3 min 46
Black* for 6 solo voices 2
min 50
*Black was workshopped and performed by
The
Song Company in January-February 2003 as part of their Mod
Art03 Composers workshops.
**2002 A.G. Francis Composer
Prize (QLD Conservatorium) ‘Spider’ (1min.40) for Baritone and Piano.
Student composer’s settings of poetry by Ursula Vaughan Williams.
Works Written
2003
Blind Love Cabaret voice and
piano 4 min
Facade solo piano 5 min
Dimensions Electronic/
acoustic short film score 8min 45
Drum Works Three Snare Drums
4 min.
Spiral SATB 4 min
Works written
in 2004
'Redlands'
Orchestral Commission for the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra inc.
(Brisbane, Redlands)
Ambient Essence
Jagged Rocks
The Messenger
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