Welcome to the website of Contemporary Australian Composer, Paul Witney.
Paul Witney is a composer, musician and educator, with his works being in demand both nationally and internationally. He has studied with some of the finest Contemporary Australian Composers, including Nigel Butterley and Michael Smetanin.
Paul’s influences are an eclectic mix of music, including, Jazz, popular music and post minimalism. This is evidenced in his compositional output.
Paul is enthusiastic about working with musicians of all levels of ability. He has been commissioned and had works performed by many professional ensembles, including The Sydney Chamber Choir, The Sydney Alpha Ensemble, The Song Company, The Aark Ensemble, The Zurich Ensemble for New
Music, The Western Australia Symphony Ensemble and Australia Pro Arte.
Trombonist, Greg Van Der Struik has been actively involved in performing works by Paul, including performing as soloist in the European premiere of his
Trombone Concerto – Night Songs.
Paul has also been active in continuing to compose for young musicians. He was commissioned by St Aloysius College to commemorate the school’s 125th
Anniversary. The result was the work Terra Lunaefor Massed Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra and soloists, performed at the Sydney Opera House. He has also been commissioned by Fr. Arthur Bridge and Ars Musica Australis to compose a Midnight Mass setting. This work Mass Luman Mundi was composed for choir and orchestra, with subsequent arrangements for brass quintet and voice and voice and keyboard. Other projects in this area have included Animal Dreaming - a set of four songs for Tara Anglican College Choir, based on
Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories.
He has been composer in residence at a number of music camps. His involvement withBorder Music Camp composer in residence scheme led to nominations and awards for an APRA/Australian Music Centre Awards for ‘The most distinguished contribution to the advancement of Australian Music in a regional area’.
Paul has a continuing interest in collaboration with other artists, including visual and performing artists as well as other composers. His association with various national and international musicians has resulted in international premieres and performances of his works in places such as the Ukraine, Canada, USA, Holland, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
During his time spent in Regional Australia, Paul was active in composing new music inspired by the local region, its landscape and its people. His interaction with local and indigenous Australians has lead to exciting developments in new works with an Indigenous focus and historical inspiration.
Paul Witney is a composer, musician and educator, with his works being in demand both nationally and internationally. He has studied with some of the finest Contemporary Australian Composers, including Nigel Butterley and Michael Smetanin.
Paul’s influences are an eclectic mix of music, including, Jazz, popular music and post minimalism. This is evidenced in his compositional output.
Paul is enthusiastic about working with musicians of all levels of ability. He has been commissioned and had works performed by many professional ensembles, including The Sydney Chamber Choir, The Sydney Alpha Ensemble, The Song Company, The Aark Ensemble, The Zurich Ensemble for New
Music, The Western Australia Symphony Ensemble and Australia Pro Arte.
Trombonist, Greg Van Der Struik has been actively involved in performing works by Paul, including performing as soloist in the European premiere of his
Trombone Concerto – Night Songs.
Paul has also been active in continuing to compose for young musicians. He was commissioned by St Aloysius College to commemorate the school’s 125th
Anniversary. The result was the work Terra Lunaefor Massed Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra and soloists, performed at the Sydney Opera House. He has also been commissioned by Fr. Arthur Bridge and Ars Musica Australis to compose a Midnight Mass setting. This work Mass Luman Mundi was composed for choir and orchestra, with subsequent arrangements for brass quintet and voice and voice and keyboard. Other projects in this area have included Animal Dreaming - a set of four songs for Tara Anglican College Choir, based on
Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories.
He has been composer in residence at a number of music camps. His involvement withBorder Music Camp composer in residence scheme led to nominations and awards for an APRA/Australian Music Centre Awards for ‘The most distinguished contribution to the advancement of Australian Music in a regional area’.
Paul has a continuing interest in collaboration with other artists, including visual and performing artists as well as other composers. His association with various national and international musicians has resulted in international premieres and performances of his works in places such as the Ukraine, Canada, USA, Holland, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
During his time spent in Regional Australia, Paul was active in composing new music inspired by the local region, its landscape and its people. His interaction with local and indigenous Australians has lead to exciting developments in new works with an Indigenous focus and historical inspiration.