Eva Bedggood, winner of the AWE Festival 2022 Emerging Composer award Photo Supplied

Ahead of next month’s full AWE (At the World’s Edge) Festival 2022 programme announcement, organisers have selected Eva Bedggood as their inaugural AWE Emerging Composer.

Eva won the nationwide competition, open to composers 20 years and younger, and will receive personalised mentoring over the next six moths from AWE Mentoring Composer Salina Fisher – the Festival’s 2021 Composer in Residence.

With Salina’s mentoring in the build up to the Festival, Eva will be supported to write a short new string chamber work to be performed within the AWE 2022 Festival programme, and to 2000+ primary and secondary students throughout the Central Lakes region.

Eva will also attend the festival, work with the musicians performing her new piece and personally present it  at the performances.

Festival Director Justine Cormack says, “We are thrilled for Eva and simply can’t wait to see and hear what she composes.  It will be wonderful to welcome her to the Central Lakes in October.  Until then, our congratulations go to Eva!”

Eva is currently studying towards a BMus in Composition and Classical Performance (trumpet, piano) at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington.

“On first hearing that I’d been selected as the AWE Festival 2022 Emerging Composer, I was so ecstatic that I literally jumped up and down on the spot!” says Eva.

As a Student Ambassador for CSO, Eva has performed alongside the CSO and NZSO, and has also performed as a member of UCCYO and The All Girl Big Band.

In 2022 she was awarded an Inspire Foundation grant, and hopes to pursue a career in film music composition.

She says, “I am so grateful to be given the chance to be part of a community of composers during the festival period and also really look forward to working with the musicians who will be performing my new work.  I can’t wait.”

At the World’s Edge Festival was held for the first time in 2021, with a wonderful programme of national and international musicians, performed in our local area, as well as in Wanaka and Queenstown.  AWE 2022 will be held in October.

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