ALMA Winners
Biographies

1981

Peter Sharman, horn

In 1984, Peter was appointed to the horn section of the NZSO. In 1987 Peter had a year out in the United Kingdom where he played with the Scottish Opera, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Welsh Symphony and the Covent Garden Opera Orchestras amongst others. In 1992, Peter was invited to play principal horn with the Australian Opera Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House for a season of Mozart's Don Giovanni. However, Peter always returned home as he realised how fortunate he was to have the position he had always dreamt of in the NZSO, and the opportunity to live and work in New Zealand. Not many orchestral musicians around the world have the opportunity to work in their home town. In the past, Peter has been a member of the NZ Brass Quintet and Cadenza, has made recordings for Concert FM, and has been a prominent teacher. In his capacity as a teacher he has written and arranged a large amount of music for learner brass ensembles. However, at present, outside the NZSO he is focussing on his two young children aged 4 and 7.

Rosemary Harris, violin

Since I got the Alex Lindsay Award I went to Yale University, got a Masters degree in music and then was associate concertmaster of the Nashville Symphony from 1983-88 and then have been in the Pittsburgh Symphony 1st fiddles for 15 years. Actually the Alex Lindsay award really was a great help at the time. In those years it paid about a quarter of my tuition fees the first year. Plus I was very proud to receive it.

1983

Alexa Still, flute

Since winning the Alex Lindsay award, Alexa completed her Masters and her Doctorate at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and played principal flute with the NZSO (1987 to 1998). Now based in Colorado, she is the Flute Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, travels within the US and abroad doing about 30 solo concerts a year, and records for Koch International Classics. You can read more about her on her website: http://www.alexastill.com

Rachel Nicholson, clarinet

Rachel Vernon received an Alex Lindsay Memorial Award whilst studying with Antony Pay and Thea King in London. She freelanced with orchestras including Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony and London Sinfonietta before returning to New Zealand to join the NZSO initially as sub principal clarinettist then, in 1995, as principal bass clarinettist.

Katherine Staniforth, cello

1984

John Robinson, clarinet

Since winning the award in 1984 I studied at Goldsmiths College, London at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies, while having lessons with John McCaw. After freelancing in London for several years I moved north to take up the position of sub-principal clarinet with Opera North in 1990. I am still at Opera North, teach at Huddersfield University and live in a small village on the edge of the Peak District National Park where I can indulge in my passions of mountain biking, walking and sailing. I am married to a viola player and have two children who both enjoy music ( and sailing!!)

David Armstrong, trumpet

After studying trumpet in Basel and Los Angeles Dave Armstrong returned to New Zealand and performed with a number of musical groups including as a casual player with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia and as a member of the New Zealand Brass Quintet and the Wellington Sinfonia. Dave still performs on trumpet but is now better known as a professional writer for theatre and television. Two of his script adaptations, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and L'Histoire du Soldat have been performed by the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra in theatrical productions that Dave also directed.

Robert Ibell, cello

From 1986 to 1992 Robert lived in London, studying cello, teaching, performing, and doing a variety of non-music jobs. Since 1993 he has been a member of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of the Nevine Quartet, the NZSO Chamber Orchestra and contemporary music group stroma. Robert is a Recording Artist for Concert FM.

1985

Michael Steer, double bass

I studied Double Bass under Roger Scott of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. After that I spent ten years in the Double Bass section of the NZSO. Since then I have been running a second hand shop in Wellington specialising in mid-century collectibles, furniture and decorative arts.

1987

Catherine Bowie, flute

Catherine Bowie arrived in Paris in 1987 to begin studying at the Paris Conservatoire with Michel Debost and Pierre-Yves Artaud. After obtaining two Premier Prix (flute and chamber music), Catherine was appointed first flute with the Paris-based contemporary music group, Court-Circuit, a position Catherine maintained until 2002. A prize-winner in international competitions, and having toured extensively throughout Europe and Australasia, Catherine returned to Auckland in 2003 where she is a flute tutor at the University of Auckland School of Music and an Associate player with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Mark Menzies, violin

Mark Menzies is professor of violin, viola and chamber music at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles; he is also currently first violinist with the ENSEMBLE SOSPESO, one of the currently leading new music ensembles in the world, based in New York. Recent CD recordings include a double set of Elliott Carter's chamber music with Sospeso and the Arditti String Quartet, and 'Process and Passion' a release of Roger Reynolds' music on the Pogus label. Mark Menzies earned an Artist Diploma from Indiana University in 1994 (studies with Franco Gulli) and the Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music in 1991 (studies with Maurice Hasson, Norbert Brainen and Anne Sophie-Mutter).

Nicola Averill, horn

NICOLA AVERILL is currently Principal Horn in the Auckland Philharmonia, and teaches at the School of Music at The University of Auckland. She has performed as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Eugene Symphony in Oregon. After winning the award Nicola spent four years studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, during which time she performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra.

1989

James Bush, cello

Shortly after winning the Alex Lindsay Award in 1989 James went on to win the National Concerto Competition in 1990 and the 1993 TVNZ Young Musicians Competition. He has studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London with Derek Simpson and Christopher Bunting, S.U.N.Y Stonybrook, U.S.A. with Timothy Eddy and has also studied baroque cello at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin with Phoebe Carrai and Markus Moellenbeck. Now living in Berlin James works with Concerto Koln, Orquesta Barrocca de Sevilla, the Berliner Sinfoniker and his great musical love, Quartet Albada."

Helen Webby, harp

Born in Whangarei, harpist Helen Webby graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from the University of Auckland, and completed in 1996 a Masters degree in Harp and Music Teaching from the Hochschule für Musik, Hamburg. While based in Germany Helen led a busy career as a chamber and orchestral musician, and recorded her first CD with her German Ensemble Obligat. In 1996 Helen appeared as Acting Principal Harp with the NZSO, and in 2000 returned to New Zealand as Principal Harp with the Christchurch Symphony. Her subsequent concerto appearances, solo and chamber recitals with the Giverny Trio (Fl, Vla, Hp) have been warmly acclaimed by critics. Along the way Helen has maintained a great interest in the celtic harp, winning a prize at the 1990 International Carolan Harp Competition (Ireland) and recording a second CD The Peacock's Dance: celtic music for harp and guitar.

Victoria Still, oboe

Post-grad. study in Freiburg and Cologne (Germany) culminated in 'Konzert Exam' (by invitation only) where I then also taught. I won the principal Oboe position in the Vienna International Orchestra in '93, also returning for work as a Radio NZ Recording Artist, to give masterclasses, NZCO, and have enjoyed numerous festivals, solo, chamber and orchestral work based in Germany also free lancing, including 'orchestral interchanging', from Europe to Brazil.