For Dimitri Latton most songs start out as a hum.
Not all of them come to fruition, but the 15-year-old from Macandrew Bay has turned one into an award-winning composition and another into an ode to the war in Ukraine.
Two weeks ago he was announced the senior winner of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers NZ Otago Branch Composition Competition.
He has started many pieces that remain unfinished and written songs as birthday presents, but recently composed a piece dedicated to the invasion of Ukraine, titled Saint Sophia’s Bells after the cathedral in Kyiv.
It did not start out as an ode to the war, but when playing the first draft of it to his friends they said it sounded Slavic.
He decided to commit to the theme and dedicate it to the invasion of Ukraine.
The piece starts off gently with a sombre undertone, but picks up speed and passion suddenly.
It features sharp, dissonant notes which stand out, reminiscent of the cathedral’s bells.
He did not actively follow the war and had no connection to Ukraine, but wanted to do something to honour the people over there, he said.
He had been playing piano for about five years.
His first composition was done digitally, but he found it difficult and tried composing for the piano instead, which he found much easier.
He planned to continue with music and hoped to make a career from it.
