Kirsten Strom

Kirsten Strom is a young composer, conductor and creative writer. Her award-winning music has been performed internationally and aired on national radio. Her work often draws from mixed media, music with a conscience and the complex beauty of nature.

In 2017 Kirsten was named the Young Composer-in-Residence with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra for 2018. Her commission Wake-Up Call for orchestra and smartphones received enthusiastic responses under the batons of Ray Chan and Tianyi Lu, causing the Auckland Town Hall to shake with spontaneous clapping and stomping from the audience. Another orchestral work Ice has seen repeat recordings and performances by the NZSO and APO, winning the Orchestra’s Choice Award in the Todd-NZSO Young Composers Awards 2017.

Internationally, Kirsten represented New Zealand in the Asian Composers League Festival 2018 in Taiwan. Her choral work Ktisis was premiered by Taipei Chamber Singers in the stunning National Theatre and Concert Hall, Taipei. In 2019 her music was featured in Risuonanze Festival, Italy, and Etchings Festival, France, receiving praise from Kaija Saariaho and Linéa Ensemble.

Kirsten has also devised and performed live electronics works. In 2018 she was an artist-in-residence for the Estalagem Live Electronics Residency in Madeira as a vocalist-composer. There she created a new work Vento for Keiko Murakami on bass flute and electronics.

Her chamber works have been performed by soloists and ensembles across New Zealand. In 2017 her theatrical work Time is Money for coins took out the Antipodes Percussion Project’s Suitcase Composition Competition and Audience Choice Award.

In 2019 she released her debut album Wavering Lines (SDL Music). Its title track was shortlisted for the ISCM World Music Days, and the album has been featured on RNZ Concert.

Kirsten currently undertakes a Master of Music at the Royal Academy of Music on scholarship.

Image credit goes to Thomas Hamill.