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Canberra, Thursday 26 April, 2001
ANU sends Sydney composer to Harvard
Sydney music student and composer, Nicholas Vines, has been awarded the
Harvard Club of Australia's 2001
Menzies Scholarship.
Mr Vines will begin classes at the Harvard
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in September this year. The 24
year-old plans to complete a Music PhD specialising in composition.
The Robert Gordon Menzies Scholarship is administered by The Australian
National University and has been running for more than 30 years. The primary
criteria for the Scholarship are intellect, leadership and vision. The
Scholarship is currently valued at $60, 000.
"After graduating from Harvard, I'll come back to Australia to pursue
an academic career and continue my endeavours as a professional composer,"
said Mr Vines. "I want to produce music that is based on sound academic
principles, while still engaging a wider audience."
"The path I have chosen is a difficult one, there are few structures
to aid progress in a field that many may see as frivolous. However, it's
vital that Australians pursue such callings, to bring a greater degree
of depth and sophistication to our multicultural society."
"Harvard will greatly broaden my artistic horizons. I thank the ANU for
providing financial backing to help me reach my goal of creating valuable
and lasting music", said Mr Vines.
Mr Vines is currently studying a Masters in Composition at the University
of Sydney, after completing a B Music (Hons) in 1998. He has tutored in
Music and Composition studies at Sydney University and the Australian
International Conservatorium. Since 1995, Mr Vines has written 18 scores,
winning an international award for a viola concerto that was performed
in London and Glasgow in 1998. One of his more recent works, a chamber
orchestra piece titled Firestick, was commissioned by Faber Music and
is awaiting premiere and publication.
For further information/interviews contact:
Nicholas Vines, 0414 682 029 (m)
Professor Jim Fox, Scholarship Committee Chairman, 02 6125 2221 (w)
Or, Loren Hackett , ANU Public Affairs, 02 6125 5001 (w)
No:39/2001
© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
Questions or Comments?
Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002
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