A huge congratulations goes out to year 13 Music student Estella Wallace, who has beaten out young composers from across the country to win a national composition award.

Estella was awarded the SOUNZ-NZCF Te Reo Māori Choral Composition Award for her piece "Ka Mate Te Reo I Te Reaka Kotahi". Her piece, written for 8-part voices, reflects the effort required to keep the Māori language alive and the death it faces if one generation doesn't take up the cause. 

As the winning composer, Estella will receive a cash prize and a taonga in the form of a pūtōrino (a traditional Māori instrument) carved by taonga puoro player/maker and composer Tāmihana Kātene. It will be presented at the national finale of The Big Sing, broadcast live on RNZ.

This is not the first notable success in Estella's burgeoning career as a student composer, having also had her work recently selected for the esteemed Nelson Composer's Weekend, which brings the best young university and professional composers together to workshop their pieces and hone their craft. Estella will be mentored by some of New Zealand's most prominent composers and will leave with a recording of her work played by professional musicians.

This is a tremendous and significant achievement for Estella and is testament to her talent, incredible potential, and the many hours of hard work she has put in.

Congratulations Estella!