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Photo: Jason Catlett

Paul Stanhope (b. 1969) is recognised as a leading composer of his generation not only in Australia but also internationally, with performances of his works in the UK, Europe, Japan and the United States. After studies with Andrew Ford, Andrew Schultz and Peter Sculthorpe in Australia he was awarded the Charles Mackerras Scholarship which enabled him to study for a time at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

He writes: "My music presents the listener with an optimistic, personal geography . . . whether this is a reaction to the elemental aspects of the universe (both the celestial and terrestrial) or the throbbing energy of the inner city".

In May 2004 Stanhope's international standing was confirmed when he was awarded first place in the prestigious Toru Takemitsu Composition Prize. In 2011 he was awarded two APRA/Australian Music Centre Awards for Instrumental Work of the Year and Vocal/Choral Piece of the Year. He was also awarded the Albert H. Maggs Award from the University of Melbourne for his String Quartet No. 1 in 2010.

Paul Stanhope's music was featured at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2009 and also at the City of London Festival in 2011. In 2010 he was Musica Viva's featured composer: his String Quartet no. 2 received nation-wide performances by the Pavel Hass Quartet as part of this season as did his Agnus Dei - After the Fire for violin and piano, performed by the stellar duo Alina Ibragimova and Cédric Tiberghien. Other choral and chamber works received national tours by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge and the Atos Piano Trio from Berlin.

Some of Stanhope's newest compositions have focused on vocal and chamber music forms. His choral work Exile Lamentations (2007-2008) was recently extended into a cantata-length piece in collaboration with oud player Joseph Tawadros and performed in its entirety by the Sydney Chamber Choir which he also directs. Recent orchestral pieces include Cloudforms (2007) commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Machinations (2006) for the Melbourne Symphony.

In 2011, Paul Stanhope composed new works for Sydney Omega Ensemble, Sydney Oboes and ACO2. In 2012 he will be working on new pieces for Adelaide Chamber Singers and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Stanhope teaches composition part-time at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and at MLC School in Sydney.

Paul Stanhope — current to December 2011