Boyd, Anne (1946–)

Australian composer and flutist. Name variations: Anne Elizabeth Boyd. Born April 10, 1946, in Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, BA; University of York, PhD; studied composition in Sydney with Peter Sculthorpe and Richard Meale (from 1963).

Acclaimed composer and flutist whose interest in Asian and indigenous Australian music influences her work, served as founding managing editor for Music Now, the 1st contemporary music journal in Australia (1968–69); lectured in music at University of Sussex (1972–77); returned to Australia to work as freelance composer (1977); served as reader and founding head of department of music at University of Hong Kong (1981–90) and as vice-chair of Hong Kong music festival, Fringe (1982–84); founded Hong Kong Society of Music Education and helped organize 1st Contemporary Chinese Composers Festival (1986); created and recorded compositions which reflect interest in ethno-musicology, in Australian Aboriginal music as well as music of Japan and Java; appointed professor and head of department of music at University of Sydney (1990); featured in documentary Facing the Music; became president of Federation of Australian Music Clubs (1993). Selected works include: (oratorio) The Death of Captain Cook; (chamber works) My Name Is Tian and Cycle of Love; (choral works) Coal River and The Last of His Tribe; (pieces for flute an piano) Red Sun Chill Wind, Cloudy Mountain and Revelations of Divine Love; (orchestral work) Grathawai; and children's opera The Little Mermaid.