STANHOPE, PAUL Four Bagatelles^#
piano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Paul Stanhope (b. 1969) is one of Australia's leading younger generation composers. He completed doctoral studies at the University of Sydney with Australia's best-known composer, Peter Sculthorpe and has also studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London, after being awarded the prestigious Sir Charles Mackerras Scholarship. Paul was recently announced as the winner of the 2004 Toru Takemitsu Composition Prize, chosen out of 129 international entries.

Stanhope's music constructs a personal response to place and time within the context of contemporary culture and, as such, is inspired by a diverse array of material ranging from the topographical through to quirky aspects of popular culture. He writes: "My music presents the listener with an optimistic, personal geography . . . .whether this is a reaction to the elemental aspects of the universe (both the celestial and terrestrial) or the throbbing energy of the inner-city." (24 Hours, May 1998.)

Paul's works have been performed by some of Australia's leading ensembles, including The Australian String Quartet, The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Southern Cross Soloists, Perihelion, The Song Company, and the Australia Ensemble. In the USA, a number of his works have been performed to great acclaim at the Sonic Boom Festival by the New York New Music Ensemble, and in 2000 two of his works featured in the Heads-Up 100 Festival in London as a part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations. After completing a series of orchestral works in 2003, Paul's focus in 2004 will be on commissioned works for younger musicians, including pieces for Gondwana Voices, The Australian Youth Orchestra's YACA program and for MLC School.

Other composition prizes include a 2nd place in the International Horn Society Composition Competition, 3rd place in the Kazimierz Serocki International Composer’s Competition (2000), a finalist position in the 1998 ABC Classic FM Composer’s Award, and a Highly Commended in the 1997 Paul Lowin Song Cycle Award. He was also awarded the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Fellowship in 2001.


^# Especially written for the SOUTHERN CROSS SOLOISTS