Cameron Monteath has literally composed himself into notoriety.
The third-year University of Otago composition student spent much of this year composing an orchestral piece, titled Moirai, as part of an assignment.
He was surprised when it was selected as one of nine pieces by New Zealand university composition students for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Todd Corporation Young Composer Awards.
The former ODT Class Act Award winner got a second surprise when it won the orchestra’s choice award and the overall NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composer Award.
"It was very unexpected, actually. The composers in this competition are of such high calibre."
"The NZSO is one of the world’s top orchestras. Honestly, to have them perform my piece was the best part — it was fantastic.
"They really brought my piece to life. Most of my composing is done on a computer, and to hear it played by actual musicians with emotion, it really added to it.
"They brought things out of it that I didn’t expect to hear."
Mr Monteath said he was interested in Greek mythology and his piece was about the Moirai (the fates) — ancient Greek characters who were the personifications of destiny.
"They are these three women, and they determine how your life will turn out.
"They all have a thread — so one determines when you will be born, another will determine what will happen in your life, and the third will cut the thread which determines when you die.
"So the piece is in three definite parts."
Mr Monteath said he planned to forge a career in composition, and now that he had the NZSO awards to his name, it had given him notoriety around the New Zealand music scene.
"This award has really confirmed to me that it is the path that I should be taking."
