Biography

Julia Francis (b. 1996) is an Auckland-based composer, arranger, musician and performer. She graduated from the University of Auckland in 2018 with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Composition, pursuing her ambition to become a composer from a young age.

Her music explores emotional depth, evocative soundscapes, and imagery, spanning choral, orchestral, chamber, and solo works. Esteemed ensembles have performed her music, including the Auckland Youth Choir, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Jade String Quartet and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Julia has been recognised in several national composition competitions. She was a finalist in the University of Auckland Douglas Lilburn Trust Composition Competition in 2017 and 2018, and the Llewelyn Jones Piano Composition Competition in 2016 and 2018. She was also a three-time finalist in the NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composer Award (2018, 2020 and 2022) and received a Highly Commended award in the inaugural NZCF Compose Aotearoa competition in 2020.

In 2017, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra recorded and workshopped one of Julia’s compositions. In 2020, she was appointed Composer-in-Residence for the Auckland Youth Choir, which commissioned and premiered her work A Night Thought at its The Final Frontier concert.

Julia has also collaborated with Mike Chunn of Play It Strange, arranging and orchestrating two winning songs for the 2021 Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition.

Alongside her musical career, Julia completed a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education Teaching, reflecting an additional interest in education and nurturing creativity in future generations. She continues to develop her creative practice through composition, arrangement and musical collaboration.


Visit Julia’s SOUNZ profile here:

Achievements

Education

  • Bachelor of Music (Honours), Composition, 2018

  • Bachelor of Music, Composition, 2017

Selection and Awards

  • Finalist, NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composers Award 2022, for “German Waltz” (2022) for orchestra, to be recorded at Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

  • Highly Commended Award, Compose Aotearoa 2020, for "A Night Thought” for double choir

  • Composer-in Residence for Auckland Youth Choir 2020

  • Commission for "A Night Thought” for Auckland Youth Choir: Chamber Choir at ‘The Final Frontier’ Auckland Youth Choir Concert in December, 2020

  • Finalist, NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composers Award 2020, for “Isolation” (2020) for orchestra, to be recorded at Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

  • Selected for CANZ Composers Workshop 2020, for “Tallulah’s Ride” (2018) for solo clarinet, performed by Leah Thomas at Nelson School of Musical Arts

  • Selected for CANZ Composers Workshop 2019, for “Flute Song of Hinemoa” (2019) for chamber ensemble, performed by TrioNique (Clare Penny, Tomoni Johnson, and Gabriela Glapska), Barbara Paterson, and James Webster at Nelson School of Musical Arts

  • Finalist, NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composers Award 2018, for “The Fall of Icarus” (2017) for orchestra, recorded at Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

  • Selected for UoA Third Year Dance Studies Student Showcase 2018, for “Tallulah’s Ride (2018) for solo clarinet and dancer(s), performed by Courtney Evison, Bethany Laycock and Rebecca Johnson (dancers) and Alysha Hardey (choreographer) at Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku

  • Finalist, Douglas Lilburn Trust Composition Prize Concert 2018, UoA School of Music, for “Tallulah’s Ride (2018) for solo clarinet and dancer(s), performed by Courtney Evison, Bethany Laycock (dancer), and Alysha Hardey (choreographer)

  • Selected for CANZ Composers Workshop 2018, for “The Awakening” (2018) for piano trio, performed by Laura Barton, Paul Mitchell, and Gabriela Glapska at Nelson School of Musical Arts

  • Finalist, Llewelyn Jones Prize Concert for Piano 2018, UoA School of Music, for “Unpredictable Weather at Moturoa Island” (2018) for piano duo, perfumed by Kate Sheldon and Moira Pascoe

  • Finalist, Douglas Lilburn Trust Composition Prize Concert 2017, UoA School of Music, for “Arya’s Journey” (2017) for string quartet, performed by Grace McKenzie, Richard Paull, Caroline Norman, and Joshua Taylor

  • Selected for APO Our Voice Ensemble Workshop 2017, for “Arya’s Journey” (2017) for string quartet, performed by Jade String Quartet (Miranda Adams, William Hanfling, Rob Ashworth and David Garner)

  • Selected for APO Our Voice Orchestral Workshop 2017, directed by Ray Chan, for “The Fall of Icarus” (2017) for orchestra

  • Finalist, Llewelyn Jones Prize Concert for Piano 2016, UoA School of Music, for “Four Miniatures for the Solar System” (2016) for piano, performed by Ji Huyn (Jane) Sohn