Ian Whitney
About
Composer
AYO National Music Camp; Composition Program: 2002-2005
Ian Whitney’s sins have followed him – from AYO National Music Camp to Victorian Opera. During the composition program at camp in 2005, the students composed pieces inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins; Ian chose Gluttony and Lust. Now Ian has been selected by Victorian Opera with three other composers to create scenes in a new companion work to Brecht/Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins; this time he’s chosen Sloth and Lust.
Ian’s many achievements include receiving the Australian Youth Orchestra/National Institute of Dramatic Art Fellowship for theatre music. More recently, he has participated in the Symphony Services International/Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Composers’ School. His work has been performed by PLEXUS and the Seven Harp Ensemble and he was recently commissioned by Christopher Cartlidge for a new work for viola and piano.
Q&A
Question: How have you approached the <i>Seven Deadly Sins</i> commission?
Answer My aim has been to make the songs theatrical – e.g. stories that work in five minutes. I’ve approached the sins very differently. The story for Lust has been easier than the story for Sloth; creating a coherent dramatic plot in five minutes kind of goes against everything we think about sloth!
Question: Do you enjoy writing for the theatre?
Answer Absolutely – I’d be happy to do nothing but write music for the stage. I love the collaboration and the idea of storytelling and make believe.
Question: From 2006-2011 you ran cultural programs in Washington; tell us about this experience.
Answer After completing an Arts Management degree, I worked on a cultural program for the Cultural Affairs Office at the Australian Embassy. The events ranged from school groups to high profile events such as Cate Blanchett performing in A Streetcar Named Desire with the Sydney Theatre Company. A highlight of my time in Washington was witnessing President Obama’s inauguration.
Question: Have your AYO networks been valuable?
Answer Very much so – when I attended an AYO AGM I was commissioned to compose a piece for PLEXUS, founded by Alumni/Board Member Monica Curro. And a work for seven harps, commissioned by AYO tutor Alice Giles, has become my most performed piece.
Question: Tips for emerging composers?
Answer Nurture your networks. And pay your AYO membership fees!