JOHN SPENCE
As a composer, John works at many ends of the extreme.
His music is experimental, it is political and it’s pop when it wants to be, and it
is socially polite when it needs to be. And, in his own inimitable style, he has
found a way to coexist amongst such diversity.
John studied composition with Graham Hair and Martin Wesley Smith at
the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. After graduating in 1989 he continued to study
counterpoint and it’s link with 20th century serialism. Many of his
early compositions draw from these studies and were written without specific instruments.
He has worked mainly as a piano and guitar teacher and a freelance
composer. His composition has formed the basis of his teaching. He has written
extensively for the harp working with his partner Michelle who plays and teaches the lever
and concert harp. Many of his compositions have focused on the Lever harp exploring
the capabilities of new tunings.
John’s compositions include pieces for chamber ensembles,
orchestral music, choral music and works for solo instruments. He has also composed
electronic works including computer music and Electro-acoustic music. He is
currently completing a research masters in electro-acoustic music at the Wollongong
Conservatorium of music.
In late 2003, his work for flute ensemble called ‘Waltzing the
Boiling Billy’ was premiered in Los Angeles by the Wollongong Conservatorium flute
ensemble. In 2004 he was invited to write an orchestral overture for the city of
Wollongong. It was first performed as part of the Inaugural concert of the new
Wollongong Symphony Orchestra.
John Spence is currently the Composer in Residence and Composition
Teacher at the Wollongong Conservatorium of music. He has set up the
Conservatorium’s Digital Music Centre and runs composition workshops for school
groups and conservatorium students.
 Back
to Music Search and composer's list of worksch |
