Artists

Mezzo-soprano

Niky has previously assisted Raroa Music School as a reliever in 2006 and is a current tutor for 2008. Before that she was based in Hamilton, directing and teaching the Waikato Children’s Choir and the Hamilton Community Choir. She has also been a composer and musical director for Riverlea Stagecraft Drama School. The Magic Paua Shell (2003) and Theandrican (2004) are two shows she has composed the music for.

Guitarist

Born and raised in Wellington, Owen began his formal guitar studies in 1997 at Massey University, graduating in 2003 with a Masters degree in performance music. In August 2003, Owen headed to the US where he studied towards a Graduate Certificate at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles). While there, he studied under James Smith, and with LA Guitar Quartet members Scott Tennant and Bill Kanengiser, with subsequent/additional tutelage from Brian Head, Martha Masters, and Pepe Romero.

Caprice Arts Trust Foundation Artist - Composer, Recorder

Philip Brownlee is a composer and sonic artist based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has recently completed a PhD in Composition at Victoria University of Wellington, in which he researched the role of timbre as a structural parameter in both instrumental and electro-acoustic music, through his own compositional practice. His work with the Wellington group Amalgam has extended these explorations into cross-disciplinary theatrical collaborations, and incorporated elements of free improvisation.

Caprice Arts Trust Foundation Artist - Pianist

While a native New Zealander, Phillip has worked for a long time in Australia. He worked as a pianist for The Australian Ballet Company. He also worked at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, where he accompanied dance and theatre rehearsals and productions.

Now back in New Zealand, Phillip is a full-time pianist at the NZ School of Dance. He considers himself fortunate to be involved with the CAT concert series as it gives him another opportunity to network and play music with other musicians.

Composer

Rachael Morgan is the current recipient of the Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship, allowing her to further explore contemporary music and composition in the UK and Europe, attending international festivals and workshops, and studying with renowned composers. Rachael completed her BMus at Waikato University then went on to study at Victoria University of Wellington, receiving her MMus (Distinction) under the tutelage of Michael Norris. Her works have received performances by leading New Zealand soloists and ensembles. Musikhochshule Lubeck also included idiosyncrasies in the Neue Musik Aus Neuseeland festival.

Metzo Soprano

Ruth Armishaw is a freelance musician based in Wellington, New Zealand, and runs an entertainment and tuition business “t’ruthful music”.

She gained a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Jazz Performance in 2002 through Massey University, followed by an honours degree in the same feild in 2007 from the New Zealand School of Music. Her background in Opera comes from 7 years (and 15 operas) with the NBR NZ Opera Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus. She has been a member of both the NZ Secondary Students' and NZ Youth Choirs and currently sings in the Orpheus Choir of Wellington.

Ruth enjoys itinerant teaching of piano, singing and music theory.

Caprice Arts Trust - Soprano

Sharon graduated with a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in voice performance from the University of Auckland in 2004. She has several years experience in teaching voice, keyboard, barbershop and choirs both privately and in schools.

Sharon is an accomplished operatic performer, having performed a variety of operatic roles with Opera Factory in Auckland; and has been performing with the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus since 2004. In her performing career she has worked with musicians and singers such as David Harper, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Rosemary Barnes, Robert Wiremu, Frances Wilson and Carmel Carroll.

Caprice Arts Trust Foundation Artist - Double Bass

Simon received his first Classical Bass tuition from Victoria Jones. The following year Simon began studies in double bass at the Victoria University School of Music, despite having had his first lessons with Victoria only three months before his audition. He also began to pursue an interest in composition and eventually completed a double major in Performance Double Bass and Composition with honours in Composition at the New Zealand School of Music in 2007. He has had compositions performed by a range of well-known performers, including Dutch percussionist Arnold Marinissen and the New Zealand String Quartet.

Pianist, Violinist

South African born, she has been living in NZ for six years. She is both a pianist and violist and has performed numerous concerts since her arrival in NZ, mostly in Wellington. Tessa enjoys being part of a chamber group, as well as accompanying instrumentalists. She teaches piano and violin at colleges in Lower Hutt as well as privately.

Violinist, Violaist, Composer

Tristan Carter completed a Bachelor of Music at Victoria University, majoring in Performance Violin and Composition, followed by an Honours year in Composition, where he gained first class Honours. Tristan will be studying towards an Masters in Composition during 2009.