Kenneth Young is a composer, conductor, music producer, radio presenter and for many years lectured in composition, conducting, and orchestration at the New Zealand School of Music, Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington. Since producing Michael Houstoun’s Inland album back in 2007, Ken has produced more than 30 Rattle releases, many of which either won or were nominated for Album of the Year in their category.
As a composer, Kenneth has had works commissioned by New Zealand and Australian orchestras and arts organisations including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra New Zealand International Arts Festival and Chamber Music New Zealand. He works as a freelance composer and is fully represented by SOUNZ: The Centre for New Zealand Music. In 1976, Young became the principal tuba for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and first conducted the orchestra in 1985 becoming Conductor in Residence in 1993. In 2001, he resigned from the orchestra to become a full-time conductor, composer, and recording artist for orchestras in New Zealand and Australia, as well as engagements in Japan and the United Kingdom.
Kenneth is well known for his interpretation of Romantic, 20th Century, New Zealand and Australian orchestral repertoire. He conducted both the winning album, Angel at Ahipara, and runner-up, Releasing the Angel, in the Best Classical Album category of the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards. His compositions have been recorded by EMI, Atoll Records, Continuum, Trust Records, ABC Classics, and Naxos. Kenneth was also a frequent presenter on RESOUND, a regular Radio New Zealand Concert programme introducing and contextualising work from the RNZ archives. In 2004 was awarded the Lilburn Trust Citation in Recognition of Outstanding Services to New Zealand Music.
