Barry Conyngham
Encyclopedia
Emeritus Professor Barry Conyngham AM (born 27 August 1944) is an Australian composer and academic. He has over seventy published works and over thirty recordings featuring his compositions, and his works have been premiered or performed in Australia, Japan, North and South America, the United Kingdom and Europe. His output is largely for orchestra, ensemble or dramatic forces. He is an Emeritus Professor of both the University of Wollongong
and Southern Cross University
.
On 22 December 2010, it was announced that Professor Conyngham had been appointed Dean of the troubled Faculty of the VCA and Music at the University of Melbourne.
, and studied with Raymond Hanson and Richard Meale
but turned his attention to orchestral writing in the mid-1960s with encouragement from Peter Sculthorpe
. He completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney
in 1967, and a Master of Arts (Hons.) at the same university in 1971. In 1970 he visited Japan on a Churchill Fellowship, where he studied with Tōru Takemitsu
. In 1972 went to the United States on a Harkness Fellowship
and gained a Certificate of Post-Doctoral Studies from the University of California, San Diego
in 1973. He was a Fellow of Princeton University
1973–74, and Composer-in-Residence at the University of Aix-Marseille in 1974–75. He was a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne
from 1975 to 1979, then Senior Lecturer 1975–79. He was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Minnesota
, was a Senior Fulbright Fellow
in 1982, and that year gained a Doctorate in Music from the University of Melbourne. He became Professor and Head of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong
1989–94. He was the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of Southern Cross University
1994–2000, based in Lismore, New South Wales
He was the first musician to hold the Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University
(2000–2001).
In 1978, he won the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award
. In 1997, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
(AM), "for service to music as a composer and to music education and administration".
In 2000, he was invited to give the 2nd Annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks
Address for the Sydney Spring Festival.
In 2003, he was given a commission by the Ian Potter Music Commission Fellowship.
He has been involved with a number of arts organisations including the World Music Council, Opera Australia
, the Australian Music Centre
and the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation. He has also been chairman of the Music Board of the Australia Council.
He has now retired from academic life and is concentrating on composition and music performance.
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
and Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University is a university based on the North and Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is a regional University with more than 14,000 students. The University's primary campus is in Lismore, with other campuses located at Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads.The University is...
.
On 22 December 2010, it was announced that Professor Conyngham had been appointed Dean of the troubled Faculty of the VCA and Music at the University of Melbourne.
Biography
Barry Ernest Conyngham was born in Sydney. He was initially interested in jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and studied with Raymond Hanson and Richard Meale
Richard Meale
Richard Graham Meale, AM, MBE was an Australian composer of instrumental works and operas.-Biography:Meale was born in Sydney and studied piano with Winifred Burston at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, as well as clarinet, harp, music history and theory, before studying at the University of...
but turned his attention to orchestral writing in the mid-1960s with encouragement from Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Joshua Sculthorpe AO OBE is an Australian composer. Much of his music has resulted from an interest in the music of Australia's neighbours as well as from the impulse to bring together aspects of native Australian music with that of the heritage of the West...
. He completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1967, and a Master of Arts (Hons.) at the same university in 1971. In 1970 he visited Japan on a Churchill Fellowship, where he studied with Tōru Takemitsu
Toru Takemitsu
was a Japanese composer and writer on aesthetics and music theory. Largely self-taught, Takemitsu possessed consummate skill in the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre...
. In 1972 went to the United States on a Harkness Fellowship
Harkness Fellowship
The Harkness Fellowships are a programme run by the Commonwealth Fund of New York City. They were established to reciprocate the Rhodes Scholarships and enable Fellows from several countries to spend time studying in the United States...
and gained a Certificate of Post-Doctoral Studies from the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
in 1973. He was a Fellow of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
1973–74, and Composer-in-Residence at the University of Aix-Marseille in 1974–75. He was a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
from 1975 to 1979, then Senior Lecturer 1975–79. He was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, was a Senior Fulbright Fellow
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
in 1982, and that year gained a Doctorate in Music from the University of Melbourne. He became Professor and Head of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
1989–94. He was the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University is a university based on the North and Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is a regional University with more than 14,000 students. The University's primary campus is in Lismore, with other campuses located at Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads.The University is...
1994–2000, based in Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
He was the first musician to hold the Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(2000–2001).
In 1978, he won the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award
Albert H. Maggs Composition Award
The Albert H. Maggs Composition Award is a commission-based Australian classical composition award given in order to "encourage and assist composers who might otherwise abandon their efforts for want of means"....
. In 1997, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM), "for service to music as a composer and to music education and administration".
In 2000, he was invited to give the 2nd Annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks
Peggy Glanville-Hicks
Peggy Glanville-Hicks was an Australian composer.- Biography :Peggy Glanville-Hicks was born Melbourne in 1912. At age 15 she began studying composition with Fritz Hart in Melbourne...
Address for the Sydney Spring Festival.
In 2003, he was given a commission by the Ian Potter Music Commission Fellowship.
He has been involved with a number of arts organisations including the World Music Council, Opera Australia
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
, the Australian Music Centre
Australian Music Centre
The Australian Music Centre fosters the development of an Australian music community by providing specialist support to its membership of performers, composers, sound artists, educators, students, and music specialists across Australia and throughout the world.The AMC is the Australian national...
and the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation. He has also been chairman of the Music Board of the Australia Council.
He has now retired from academic life and is concentrating on composition and music performance.
Sources
External links
- Barry Conyngham : Represented Artist (Australian Music Centre)