Biography EWAN CLARK (B.Mus, Grad.Dip.Arts)

Ewan Clark is a composer, orchestrator, conductor and copyist. Working with filmmakers in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and India, he is scoring a rapidly growing number of short films and other projects. Notable collaborators include award-winning wildlife filmmaker Shekar Dattatri and Auckland film production company Scathing Arc. In the concert hall, Ewan's compositions have been performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Sinfonia and others, while his conducting performances have received multiple radio broadcasts. His film music preparation experience includes work for composer Victoria Kelly and orchestrator Ricky Edwards on Under The Mountain (2009). Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Ewan's early musical background was in orchestral and jazz trombone. In 1997-2000, he won various local and national music awards, including the 1998 New Zealand Young Composer's Award, which encouraged him to study for his Bachelor of Music in composition at the University of Otago. There he wrote Gethsemane, a minimalist piece for strings later performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Gethsemane also features in the film Counting on Fingers by Adam Arkapaw, now a recipient of the Cannes Jury Prize for short film. While at Victoria University of Wellington School of Music in 2001-5, Ewan furthered his studies, learning from the nation’s finest composers, including John Psathas, composer for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. He also studied conducting under Marc Taddei and conducted various ensembles, choirs and orchestras including the Wellington Youth Sinfoietta, GateSeven (a contemporary music ensemble he co-founded) and the Wellington Gilbert & Sullivan Society. While in Auckland (2006-9) he worked as a music teacher, film composer and as Musical Director of the Auckland Wind Orchestra. Ewan currently lives and works in London.

Testimonials

Shekar Dattatri {Writer/Director}
SOS: Save Our Sholas
2009-09

"Ewan is a director's delight. Despite the several thousand kilometers between us, he managed to conjure up a refreshing and apt score for my documentary on South India's rainforests. I look forward to working with him again and again."

Aston Garrat {Writer/Director}
Knock Three Times
2008-10

"I had a wonderful experience working with Ewan. By the end of our collaboration, every note matched the story I was trying to tell."

Adam Fresco {Writer/Director}
Keep It Up!
2008-11

"Ewan's music helped our film to leap effortlessly between the various genres it parodied. I not only enjoyed collaborating with him as a musician but as a nice bloke too!"

Rory Leighton {Writer/Director}
A Son Rising

“Ewan’s work added a new dimension to my film which heightened the story’s emotional impact and connection with the viewer.”

Nicole Perry {Writer/Director}
The Sunshine Girl
2009-04

"The emotional value of this film would not have been nearly as gratifying without Ewan's score. His music not only played equally to the many mood variances of the film, but it also brought a sense coherence to the entire ensemble. Ewan's exhaustive work ethic and infallible patience alone make him a pleasure to work with."

Chris Tout {Writer/Director}
Carnal Seasoning, An Aggressive Gift, Hell Hath and Chronicles of Dr Sally and the Suicidal Sleepwalker
2009-07

"Ewan is versatile, professional and never afraid to ask questions. It is a privilege to have his involvement and I look forward to working with him on future projects."

The Dominion
Gethsemane
2008-11

"With the premier of his string work Gethsemane...Clark reveals a natural feel for neo-romanticism; a completely absorbed marriage of feelings and formality that has the emotional depth of Górecki, and even Kanceli... surpassingly beautiful"