MUSICAL TALENT EXCELS
A YEAR 9 student from Townsville Grammar School has been announced as a young finalist for the Queensland Music Festival’s 2018 statewide film scoring competition.
Thomas Gray is one of 13 composers from secondary schools across Queensland to have been chosen as a finalist.
Finalists selected from the students category Score IT! Junior ( Year 7- 10) saw entries create a score for The Forest, the story of a young monk who must help a deer in order to restore peace to the forest.
Fourteen- year- old Thomas said he entered the competition after being encouraged by his mother and his school teachers.
Thomas plays clarinet and the tin whistle, and created an orchestral piece for his score.
“It’s an animated film piece in various styles, about three minutes long, “he said.
“It’s was quite stressful because I left it to the last minute, but it was enjoyable.
“I’ve been composing for a couple of years and playing instruments since I was in Grade 2.”
Finalists will be invited to take part in a number of composition workshops and masterclasses led by composer and orchestrator Cameron Patrick, and also take part in a half- day workshop at Queensland School of Film and Television.
Entries were judged by an expert panel including QMF artistic director Katie Noonan, and award- winning screen composer Cameron Patrick, known for orchestrating films such as Spider- Man: Homecoming, Zootopia, Jurassic World, UP, Jupiter Ascending, and Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Other judges included industry leaders from Griffith Film School, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Queensland School of Film and Television and PixelFrame.
Ms Noonan said with more than 60 entries from across the state, Score IT! showcased the best of Queensland’s next generation of composers and musical visionaries.
“Each year we’re amazed by the depth of young and talented composers from all corners of Queensland who enter this fantastic competition, dreaming to follow in the footsteps of international composers like Ennio Morricone and John Williams,” she said. “Score IT! aims to be a catalyst for young Queenslanders to explore their passion and the emotional and theatrical connection between music and film.”
Thomas said he enjoyed writing the piece especially seeing the finished product and other people’s faces.
“As a finalist, I’m happy to meet other people and I’m happy I got as far as I have,” he said.
Thomas said he would continue writing music and was looking forward to participating in a senior challenge.