Winner of the 202-21 Layton Emerging Composer fellowship Announced
Following a highly competitive application process, the Australia Ensemble UNSW is thrilled to announce Ian Whitney is the winner of the Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship for 2020-21.
The Fellowship is valued at $10,000 for one year, for an Emerging Composer to write two chamber music works as part of the Australia Ensemble UNSW’s outreach program, which fosters greater engagement in and recognition of composition and chamber music activities at UNSW.
“I am thrilled to be selected for the Layton Emerging Composer Fellowship,” says Mr Witney.
“It is immensely exciting, and humbling, to know I will soon be writing for some of Australia’s best chamber musicians. These opportunities to develop craft and build confidence are rare and valuable and I am grateful to Emeritus Professor Layton and the late Dr Merrilyn Layton, the Australia Ensemble and UNSW for what promises to be an amazing and enriching experience.”
As part of the Fellowship, Mr Whitney will write two works across a 12-month period which will feature at a public workshop to be held in 2021. Mr Whitney will also receive mentoring sessions with a Composition staff member from the UNSW School of the Arts & Media, members of the Australia Ensemble UNSW, and an external composition mentor.
The Fellowship is made possible in 2020-2021 by Emeritus Professor Roger Layton AM and his late wife Dr Merrilyn Layton.
“The possibility of supporting new emerging composers is something that we both always wanted to do – encouraging younger scholars to find their place and contribute significantly to a competitive world,” says Professor Layton. “The Emerging Composer Fellowship made this possible and I am delighted I am able to help in this way. Ian Whitney is a wonderful choice who I am sure will create beautiful, challenging music for many years.”
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