Third year music student, Thomas Bedggood has recently received 2 special honours!
Thomas’ piece ‘Smoking Mirror’ has been chosen for this year’s Todd Corporation Young Composers Award and will be recorded by the NZSO.
Of this piece, Thomas has said: “Smoking Mirror is inspired by facets of Nahua culture and legends – the term “smoking mirror” refers to ancient local mirrors of polished obsidian, which give all reflections a dim, smoky, ephemeral quality, glazed with red auras thanks to the composition of the volcanic glass.
Smoking Mirror is also the translated title attributed to the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca; amongst his many other aspects, Tezcatlipoca’s prime symbolism was for change achieved through conflict or massive upheaval, something that can be reflected on whilst considering current international affairs in 2020.
The work seeks to display a dark and murky palate, with coiling and roiling textures serving as a backdrop for artifacts and events that emerge and climb out of the work’s various textures.”
For more information about the Todd Corportation Young Composers Awards, head to the NZSO website here.
As part of its Arts Excellence awards, the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Committee, Thomas has also been awarded the Cecily Maccoll High Achiever Award!
Thomas will be using the funding towards his Honours year, which will include collaborations with various composers and performers across New Zealand.
He says the award is a huge confidence boost: “Music is something that I love, and to be acknowledged for what I do is an incredible feeling.”
Thomas is also involved in the Latin American CAPE/NZSO Cultural Exchange Programme, where he is a part of a group of composers who have been tasked with a 15-minute composition of Latin American influence over the next two months.
Congratulations to Thomas, for his fantastic achievements this year! We look forward to hearing more of his compositions as continues to be a part of our music-making community.
