Featured Composer: Annie Hsieh

The Yarra Trio are pleased to introduce their featured composer and winner of The Yarra Trio Composition Award for 2008 Annie Hsieh. The Yarra Trio will perform her work on October 21 at fortyfive downstairs.

Originally from Taiwan, Annie has spent a major part of her life in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Australia to commence her study at the University of Melbourne.

Annie has spent half of her of Bachelor Degree majoring in piano with Igor Machlak, and later in 2005 was accepted into the composition course under the directions of Professor Brenton Broadstock and Dr. Stuart Greenbaum. After completing the degree with Honours, Annie was then accepted into the Masters program under the university Research scheme as the youngest candidate, under guidance of Dr. Stuart Greenbaum.

Through her relatively short period in music writing, Annie has built up a significant resume notably her active involvement in student musical theatre productions. She has written works for the Chinese Music Group (The Tunnel 2005, Karma 2006), and was the co-producer and composer for Fishnet Productions’ Alice in Wonderland in 2006. Her music was also featured in the critically acclaimed show Wonderful Day (Fishnet Productions) during Mudfest in 2007. Her latest musical in Mandarin for the Chinese Music Group What Binds Us opened at the end of August has received many positive reviews, on top of a sell-out season.

Other achievements include a CD released (Time Capsule) which includes her electro-acoustic work Imagine a World Without Music; a contribution to the Faculty of Music (University of Melbourne) Erm Malley Project with work for tenor and piano Colloquy with John Keats, and being accepted into the composition program in the 2009 Australian Youth Orchestra Summer Camp.