Listen to Olivia’s original composition submitted with her entry.
My name is Olivia Diamant, and I am an 18-year-old composer, songwriter and instrumentalist in my first year of studying a Bachelor of Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. I began my musical journey playing the tenor horn, before switching to trumpet as my main instrument in year 7 – I am also self-taught in numerous other instruments (vocals, piano, guitar) At Turramurra Highschool, I was privileged to be a part of superb creative and performing arts programs of which fostered my creativity, including musical activities such as concert band, jazz band, improvisation classes, acapella groups, and the school musical. Forming a particular passion for jazz trumpet playing, I placed 1st in the 15 and over jazz brass solo section of the Ryde Eisteddfod in 2019 and was invited back in 2020 for the winners’ concert, performing my original jazz composition ‘Jubilation’.
I first dabbled in composition in year 7, as I attempted to score songs for the original musical I was writing with my friends. Since then, I have explored writing in a range of styles, from Latin jazz, to classical, to funk, to contemporary acapella. I decided to challenge myself in year 12 by defying the famous ‘don’t choose more than 2 major works’ advice, instead, choosing all composition electives for HSC (composing 4 pieces for Music 2 and extension) – and instead of regretting it, I learnt a lot and ended up with Encore nominations for them!
Along with Artology, I am excited to say that this year I have also been selected to write a mini musical for the MUSE New Voices program. I’m so grateful and can’t wait to see what comes next in my musical journey!
Composition inspiration
If you think of life as a story, each passing year is the turn of a new page – a chance for something novel and thrilling. My composition ‘As the Page turns’ was written in the midst of many exciting events – the end of my first uni semester, passing my driver’s test, and above all, the leadup to my eighteenth birthday. As someone who sets out to capture specific and (often intense) emotional experiences within my music, I was inspired to reflect the feelings of anticipation and exhilaration that I was experiencing in my fanfare.
To do this, I decided to utilise a repeating melodic & rhythmic ostinato as to give the sense of the piece pushing forward through the creation of a constant rhythmic drive. I passed this ostinato across different instruments to create an interesting contrast of tone colour within the ensemble, as well as including a plethora of countermelodies and developments – before building to a swelling, cathartic climax that reflects the euphoria of these big life events.
Email: info@artology.org.au
Postal Address: PO Box 1115, Edgecliff 2027
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