Julia Francis

Julia Francis is an Auckland-based composer, arranger, musician, and performer. After wanting to be a composer from a young age, in 2018 she completed her Bachelor of Music degree with Honours in composition at the University of Auckland.

Over time, Julia has had several works recorded, workshopped, and performed by a variety of performers and groups, such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, APO’s ensemble, Jade String Quartet, performance students from University of Auckland and various performers at the Nelson Composers Workshop. Her orchestral work The Fall of Icarus was workshopped and recorded by the APO in 2017. In 2018, she was selected as a finalist for the NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composer Award for the same work. In 2020, she was selected as a finalist for her second time for the NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composer Award for her work Isolation, which was recorded and workshopped last November.

Julia has also been a two-time finalist in the University of Auckland Douglas Lilburn Trust Composition Competition with her works Tallulah’s Ride and Arya’s Journey. Arya’s Journey was also workshopped and recorded by the Jade String Quartet in 2017. In 2018, Tallulah’s Ride was performed at the University of Auckland Dance Studies: Third Year Student Showcase. She is also a two-time finalist in the University of Auckland Llewelyn Jones Piano Composition Competition with her works, Unpredictable Weather at Moturoa Island and Four Miniatures for the Solar System.

Julia was also named one of the Auckland Youth Choir Composers-in-Residence for 2020. In December 2020, she had her work A Night Thought commissioned and premiered by the Auckland Youth Choir at The Final Frontier concert. This work was also awarded highly commended in the Open category of the first Compose Aotearoa competition.

Currently, Julia is working on a project for Mike Chunn’s “Play It Strange” upcoming concert. She is orchestrating and arranging parts for two songs, Tidesby Renee Vaudrey, and Isaiah 43 by Sophie Frame, which will be performed by a small pop group with various performers.

Visit Julia's website here: https://juliafrancismusic.squarespace.com/