Tom Henry
Tom Henry is an Australian composer who has written works for solo piano, organ, voice, choir, chamber ensemble and orchestra. His works have been performed in Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Canada.
Born in Melbourne, he began his musical career as a flautist. After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts, he undertook a period of overseas study with the French virtuoso Patrick Gallois. After returning to Australia in 2002 he held a number of positions including Associate Principal Flute withOrchestra Victoria.
He completed his initial composition studies with the late Australian composer Lawrence Whiffin (a former student of René Leibowitz), then undertook further studies with Julian Yu, Elliott Gyger and Stuart Greenbaum. In 2022 he completed a PhD in Composition at the University of Melbourne with Stuart Greenbaum.
His works for piano includes two Piano Sonatas. His first (2006, revised 2011) was dedicated to and first performed by Michael Kieran Harvey, and was a finalist in the 2011 American Liszt Society Bicentennial Composition Prize. A studio recording was released in 2012 on ‘ASTRA 60’, on MOVE Records. His Sonata for Flute and Piano (2020) was first performed by Derek Jones (flute) and Jerry Wong (piano) in May 2022. A studio recording is available on MOVE Records as part of a CD of Australian works for flute, titled ‘Flute Perspectives – Vol. 3’.
Tom has been commissioned by numerous Australian chamber ensembles, including the Huon Quartet (Shelley on the Water (2016)) and Syzygy Ensemble (Towards Patmos - after Hölderlin (2018)), commissioned by Macedon Music. His first string quartet, Scenes from a poet's life (2015), was commissioned for the Flinders Quartet, and recorded for ABC Classics on ‘The Offering’. The Piano Trio (2020), his second commission for the Firebird Trio, was first performed in December 2020 for Melbourne Digital Concert Hall. He has twice been commissioned by the Australian Chamber Choir to write major works for their European tours; Kakadu Man (2015) and Uncertain Journeys (2017).
His works for orchestra include Variations for orchestra in three movements (2009), which won the APRA Prize in the 3MBS National Composers Award, and Ancestors for orchestra - Night Dances (2011), performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. His most recent work, Visions from the interior – after Fred Williams (2020), was commissioned by and first performed by the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in May 2022.
Website: https://www.tomhenry.com.au
Scores and recordings of the composer can be ordered at the Australian Music Centre: https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/henry-tom
Artist's website: tomhenry.com.au
Compositions by Tom Henry appear on
Light in dark
Light in dark is a compendium of piano works by composer Tom Henry. There are a number of different stylistic influences in this newly recorded selection including jazz, pop, the diverse influences of renaissance polyphony, and 20th century modernism.
Composer
Flute Perspectives 3
The third release in this series from Derek Jones, Flute Perspectives 3 continues to convey the synergy of the fascinating and varied Australian classical flute repertoire, with new works Jones has commissioned, some of them being recorded for the for the first time on this album.
Composer
Astra 60
This CD captures a concert of Australian piano music given in celebration of Astra's support of Australian music and artists. For 60 years the Astra Chamber Music Society has presented new Australian music and Australian performers within a context of international new music developments, always informed by cultural perspectives.
Composer
Gold
The Australian Chamber Choir performs works by eight Australian composers. Douglas Lawrence directs a program of pure gold.
