The University of Auckland Songwriter of the Year

The School of Music's Popular Music programme will hold a series of free songwriting workshops from March to July this year. This is a great opportunity to hone your songwriting skills, working with some high profile New Zealand artists, in the lead-up to the Songwriter of the Year competition 2012. Watch this space – more details coming soon.

The Songwriter of the Year 2011 was Earl Ho, who is currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Music conjoint degree at the University. His original song and performance were judged the best amongst those of the six talented finalists at the Grand Final concert, held at the Maidment Theatre on 29 September.

Earl was also awarded some great prizes courtesy of MusicWorks, KiwiFM, the New Zealand Association of Music Producers (NZAMP) and Roundhead Studios.

"The final was such a fantastic night, with so much talent on show... I'm really stoked about the win and it will be a memory that I will cherish till the end of time", he said.

As well as the performances of the six finalists, the concert also featured guest performances from the winners of the Songwriter of the Year: Schools Competition held in June this year. Talented young musicians Evean Hunt (Otahuhu College, Auckland) and Emmeline Lee (Botany Downs Secondary College, Auckland) each performed a set of their original songs.

Congratulations to Earl and all our other finalists
Earl Ho
Sam Allen
Samantha Jones
Larrisa King
Phil Kim
Callum Martin

View interviews with all the finalists on KiwiFM’s Radio Wammo Breakfast Show
Wammo interviews winner Earl Ho
Wammo interviews finalist Sam Allen
Wammo interviews finalist Phil Kim
Wammo interviews finalist Samantha Jones
Wammo interviews finalist Larissa King
Wammo interviews finalist Callum Martin
Wammo interviews Schools Competition winners Evean Hunt and Emmeline Lee

Check out our past winners
2010 winner – Janine Foster
2009 winner– Jocee Tuck

Enquiries: songwriter@creative.auckland.ac.nz | 09 923 7707
Proudly supported by: MusicWorks, KiwiFM, NZAMP (New Zealand Association of Music Producers) and Roundhead Studios.

The Songwriter of the Year Schools Competition Grand Final was held at the Kenneth Myers Centre Saturday 18 June 2011. Congratulations to all the finalists on a fantastic event.

“I was very impressed with all of the finalists. These young high school performers combine high levels of skill with strong musical conviction. I think everyone there would have been impressed by their dedication to their music” – Judges: Godfrey DeGrut, Darren Smith (MusicWorks) and Sam Collins (KiwiFM).

First Place Winners
Evean Hunt – Otahuhu College, Auckland
Emmeline Lee – Botany Downs Secondary College, Auckland
Second Place Winners
Petra Bullock – Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland
Ash Graham – Wellington High School, Wellington
Third Place Winners
Amiel Encomienda – Edgewater College, Auckland
Mitchell French – ACG Strathallan College, Auckland

Congratulations to winners Evean Hunt and Emmeline Lee. These talented young musicians will perform as guests at the Songwriter of the Year Grand Final, Maidment Theatre, 29 September 2011.

Check out our past winners:
2010 winner – Massad
2010 winner – Jaime Fitzgerald
2009 winner – Shana Llorando
2009 winner – Papa Eden

The University of Auckland’s Songwriter of the Year competition has become a major feature of the local music scene and the University’s public events calendar.

The University of Auckland would like to thank all the entrants and secondary schools who participated in the competition; we had an overwhelming response from many talented young musicians and we look forward to hearing more in the 2012 competition.

Enquiries: songwriter@creative.auckland.ac.nz | 09 923 7707
Sponsored by: MusicWorks and KiwiFM