Sue W Music Composition Prize winner announced

We’re pleased to announce that the winner of the 2019-2020 Sue W Chamber Music Composition Prize is Australian composer, Dr Natalie Williams.

Amongst a very high standard of entries, the judging panel remarked that Dr. Williams’ “submitted two extremely strong pieces for strings that were of a very high standard. The first piece demonstrated very idiomatic cello and piano writing, and a capability for both lyrical writing and rhythmically complex driving ideas. The second piece was very cleverly constructed and kept the tension going for the duration. There is a clear sense of structure, a confident voice, and a professionalism present in these two works.”

Dr. Williams was thrilled to be the recipient of the award, saying “I am incredibly humbled by this, and so look forward to writing a new work for cello and piano, for the amazing talents of Umberto Clerici and Ben Kopp.”

She also thanked the donors of the award, Mrs. Sue and Assoc. Prof. Richard Willgoss, for their generosity and foresight in supporting Australian music in this way. “It is such an important contribution to ensuring a bright future for Australian composers.”

The new work commissioned as part of this prize is due to be premiered at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, as part of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s Australian Series.

The Sue W Chamber Music Composition Prize is made possible through a generous gift from Mrs Sue Willgoss and Associate Professor Richard Willgoss, who support creative art music composition in Australia. This award makes an invaluable contribution to the nation’s musical landscape