Joseph Twist

'''Joseph Edward Twist''' (born 1982) is an Australian composer from Gold Coast, Queensland, who resides in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Jane |date=6 June 2012 |title=Totally composed - Hitting the right note for kids is this talented muso's intention |page=27 |work=Brisbane Times|publisher=News Corp Australia }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Patricia |date=24 January 2005 |title=Idea for a song |page=14 |work=The Courier-Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Campbell |first=Peter |year=2011 |title=Eclectic Experience-Eclectic Style: An Interview with Joseph Twist |journal=Context: Journal of Music Research |url=https://cpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.unimelb.edu.au/dist/6/184/files/2016/08/35-36_Campbell-Interview-1we6bif.pdf |publisher=University of Melbourne |issue=35/36 |pages=167–179, 216}}</ref>

Twist composed music for other artists including Moby, Missy Higgins, Guy Sebastian, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Idea of North, Chanticleer and The Wiggles and for television shows including ''Bluey''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SPC_20210403_StJohnPassionReimagined.pdf |access-date=18 December 2012 |title=St John Passion Reimagined |publisher=Sydney Philharmonic Choirs |date=2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/chronology-arts-publishes-list-demand-australian-composers | title = Chronology Arts Lists 'In Demand' Australian Composers | journal = Limelight Magazine | last = McPherson | first = Angus | date = 22 March 2017 | access-date = 13 January 2018 }}</ref> Twist also composed for films ''The Jungle Book'' (2016), ''Zoolander 2'', ''Baywatch'' and ''The Brooklyn Banker''.<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5067014/|title=IMDB|website=IMDB|accessdate=20 December 2016}}</ref> Twist works in a range of genres from ancient vocal music, opera, contemporary orchestral music, jazz, musical theatre and cabaret.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.joetwist.com|title=joetwist.com|website=joetwist.com|accessdate=20 December 2016}}</ref> Twist's concert works are performed by professional ensembles around the world. He worked in copying and orchestration on Hollywood studio films in Los Angeles with Steven Juliani Music.

== Early years and education ==

Joseph Edward Twist was born in 1982 in Queensland,<ref name="APRA Twist">{{cite web | publisher = APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) | title = 'Joseph Twist' at APRA search engine | url = https://www.apraamcos.com.au/works-search?works=true&title=&writer=&performer=Joseph%20Twist | access-date = 20 December 2021 }}</ref><ref name="AMC Intro">{{Citation | title=Twist, Joseph (1982-) | journal=Trove | year=2009 | url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1440695 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Bach 2012">{{cite web | url = https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/event/bach-with-a-twist | title = Bach with a Twist : To be confirmed : 29.Apr.12 : Event | publisher = Australian Music Centre (ANC) | date = 29 April 2012 | access-date = 20 December 2021 }}</ref> and grew up on the Gold Coast.<ref name="Cheney"/> He began learning keyboards and then piano with music teacher, Kathryn Bartlett.<ref name="Cheney">{{cite web | url=http://www.cutcommonmag.com/behind-the-conversation-with-lisa-cheney/index.html | title=Behind the Conversation | first=Lisa | last=Cheney | work=CutCommon | date=18 September 2017 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20180430064907/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/156120/20180430-1010/www.cutcommonmag.com/behind-the-conversation-with-lisa-cheney/index.html | archive-date=30 April 2018 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> At primary school, Twist studied piano with Bevan Crabtree and began composing music in his teens.<ref name="Cheney"/>

Twist holds four tertiary degrees in music composition. He completed his Bachelor (2003) and Master of Music at the [https://music.uq.edu.au/ School of Music], University of Queensland and studied composition under Philip Bračanin, Richard Mills, Nigel Butterley, and subsequently with Ira Newborn and Julia Wolfe in New York City. His doctoral thesis, ''Folio of Compositions with Critical Commentary: An exploration of musical influences and composing techniques. Critical commentary'' was delivered to the University of Queensland, School of Music in August 2009.<ref name="UQ Thesis">{{citation | author1=Joseph Twist | title=Folio of Compositions with Critical Commentary: An exploration of musical influences and composing techniques. Critical commentary | date=1 August 2009 | publisher=University of Queensland, School of Music | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38013995 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=UQ News |title=Facebook inspires UQ Centenary score |date=3 December 2010 |access-date=18 December 2021 |url=https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2010/12/facebook-inspires-uq-centenary-score |last=Mayocchi |first=David}}</ref> He started another doctorate at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music with Elliott Gyger and Katy Abbott-Kvasnica supervising.<ref name="Cheney"/> He has also studied at the Australian Film Television and Radio School,<ref name="campbell">{{cite web |url=https://cpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.unimelb.edu.au/dist/6/184/files/2016/08/35-36_Campbell-Interview-1we6bif.pdf |work=Composer Interview |title=Eclectic Experience - Eclectic Style: An Interview with Joseph Twist |first=Peter |last=Campbell |access-date=18 December 2021 |date=2011}}</ref> and New York University.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} Twist has participated in several film scoring programs around the United States, such as NYU ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop in New York<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soundslikesydney.com.au/news/the-choir-of-st-james-launches-cd-project/8512.html |date=16 July 2012 |title=The Choir of St James' launches CD Project |access-date=18 December 2021 |work=Sounds Like Sydney - News}}</ref> and the ASCAP Film and TV Workshop with Richard Bellis in Los Angeles.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

== Career ==

Joseph Twist sang tenor for the Brisbane Chamber Choir (c. 2004),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://brisbanechamberchoir.org/members/index.shtml | title=Members | publisher=Brisbane Chamber Choir | year=2004 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050623061625/http://brisbanechamberchoir.org/members/index.shtml | archive-date=23 June 2005 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Canticum (c. 2005),<ref name="Pana Musica"/> National Youth Choir of Australia and Guido's Hand.<ref name="Gondwana Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.pemulwuy.org.au/new_music.htm | title=New Music: Featured Composer: Joseph Twist | publisher=Pemulwuy: National Music Festival | year=2008 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080719001602/http://www.pemulwuy.org.au/new_music.htm | archive-date=19 July 2008 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was appointed composer-in-residence for Gondwana Voices for 2008.<ref name="Gondwana Profile"/><ref name="NCS 20th">{{cite web | url=http://www.accesspr.com.au/news/1596/220/GONDWANA-CELEBRATES-20-YEARS-OF-NATIONAL-CHORAL-SCHOOL- | title=Gondwana Celebrates 20 Years of National Choral School - Access, results driven media relations, digital marketing and media training | website=Access | last=Shields | first=Sarah | year=2017 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170218004854/http://www.accesspr.com.au/news/1596/220/GONDWANA-CELEBRATES-20-YEARS-OF-NATIONAL-CHORAL-SCHOOL- | archive-date=18 February 2017 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2009 he set Judith Wright's poem, "The Old Prison", to music.<ref name="Collins">{{cite web | url=http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/brisbane-chamber-choir.html | title=Brisbane Chamber Choir : Review (Event) Article | last=Collins | first=Sarah | publisher=Australian Music Centre (AMC) | date=14 August 2009 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170803080151/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/119124/20170803-0503/www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/brisbane-chamber-choir.html | archive-date=3 August 2017 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Sarah Collins of the Australian Music Centre (AMC) attended the Q150 Celebration Concert at St John's Cathedral in July of that year.<ref name="Collins"/><ref name="Q150 Conc"/> The concert included Twist's adaptation of "The Old Prison" performed by the Brisbane Chamber Choir and the Queensland Orchestra String Quartet for its world premiere.<ref name="Collins"/><ref name="Q150 Conc">{{Citation | author1=Brisbane Chamber Choir | author2=The Queensland Orchestra String Quartet | author3=Morton, Graeme | author4=Twist, Joseph | author5=Bonetti, Paul-Antoni | title=Q150 Celebration Concert | date=2009-07-26 | publisher=St John's Cathedral | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/245309461 | access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref> Collins observed, "[he] sets the opening simple motif over a drone with wide temporal space between the intervals alluding to the flat, open landscape. This six-note (with anacrusis) opening motif becomes the germ upon which the work is based."<ref name="Collins"/>

His track, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?", was broadcast by the BBC.<ref name="BBC Profile">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/d4df6e24-9092-46cd-a44d-b83e9db5dadc?trackfocus=n4b4xq |title= Joseph Twist |work=BBC Music |access-date= 2 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220184022/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/d4df6e24-9092-46cd-a44d-b83e9db5dadc?trackfocus=n4b4xq |archive-date=20 December 2018 }}</ref>

In 2019, he was commissioned to arrange Men at Work's hit song Down Under, for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for use at the State Memorial Service for former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke held at the Sydney Opera House on 19 June of that year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carmody |first1=Broede |title='Great honour': Colin Hay touched by poignant performance at Hawke memorial |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/great-honour-colin-hay-touched-by-poignant-performance-at-hawke-memorial-20190614-p51xti.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022 a cantata he composed to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the murder of Dr George Duncan premiered at the Adelaide Festival.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watershed: 'We always return to the river and we always return to Duncan' - InDaily |url=https://www.indaily.com.au/arts-culture/adelaide-festival/2022/01/12/watershed-we-always-return-to-the-river-and-we-always-return-to-duncan |work=www.indaily.com.au |date=12 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> It was revived by Opera Australia in 2024 for a season of performances at the Sydney Opera House.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watershed – The Death of Dr Duncan |url=https://limelight-arts.com.au/event/watershed-the-death-of-dr-duncan/2024-06-15/2/ |work=Limelight |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Awards == Awards and recognition include: * ASCAP Jimmy Van Heusen Award 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ascapfoundation.org/programs/awards/award-recipients/jimmy-van-heusen |title=The ASCAP Foundation Jimmy Van Heusen Award |access-date=18 December 2021 |publisher=The ascap Foundation}}</ref> * Chanticleer International Composition Competition<ref name="campbell"/> * APRA Professional Development Award (Film and TV Category)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/apra-professional-development-award-to-joe-twist |title=APRA Professional Development Award to Joe Twist |work=resonate Magazine |author=Australian Music Centre |date=27 March 2013 |access-date=18 December 2021}}</ref> * First-place in the 15th International Choral Composition Competition in 2011<ref name="campbell"/>

== Works ==

* "Wandering" (2003) – SATB Brisbane Chamber Choir conducted by Graeme Morton, appears on ''Time and Eternity'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amcoz.com.au/product/time-and-eternity | title=CD: ''Time and Eternity'' / Brisbane Chamber Choir; Director, Graeme Norton. [2006] : Product | publisher=Australian Music Centre (AMC) | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20180423180516/https://www.amcoz.com.au/product/time-and-eternity | archive-date=23 April 2018 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> *"Do not Stand at my Grave and Weep" – for SATB Choir. Commissioned by the National Youth Choir of Australia, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/classic/daily/stories/s1502972.htm|title=Music Details for Wednesday 28 December 2005 |work=Up Late with Julian Day|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)|accessdate=25 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musical-resourcesonlinestore.com/shop/product_view.asp?storeID=B33CA529D61F4CA183ABE5A175CD2C42&menu=0&pr=147662&seg=1&c0=102&c1=512&c2=929&type=Band/Choir/Orchestra&category=Choir&subcategory=SATB&chkMatchQ=all&SaveCategory=&txtQuickSearch=do%20not%20stand%20at%20my%20grave&priv=1|title=Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep - Morton Music - Musical Resources|accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> **"Do not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Canticum Chamber Choir, Emily Cox (conductor) appears on ''Choral Highlights – 7th World Symposium on Choral Music'' (CD album, May 2006)<ref name="Pana Musica">{{cite web | url = https://www.panamusica.co.jp/en/new/2006/05/ | title = New Titles | work = Pana Musica | date = May 2006 | access-date = 20 December 2021 }}</ref> *"Love Themes" – a set of Madrigals for 6 Voices. Written for The Song Company, 2005. (3mvts)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/classic/daily/stories/s1534694.htm|title=Music Details for Monday 16 January 2006|work=In Performance with Damien Beaumont|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)|accessdate=25 February 2010}}</ref> *"Fanfare for the Common Consumer" (for Orchestra)<ref name="australianmusiccentre.com.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/workversion/twist-joseph-fanfare-for-the-common-consumer/22964|title=Fanfare for the common consumer : from Symphony for a busy world by Joseph Twist : Work : Australian Music Centre|accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> *"On the Night Train" for SATB Choir<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/workversion/twist-joseph-on-the-night-train/23606|title=On the night train : for mixed voices by Joseph Twist : Work : Australian Music Centre|accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musical-resourcesonlinestore.com/shop/product_view.asp?storeID=B33CA529D61F4CA183ABE5A175CD2C42&menu=0&pr=146595&seg=1&c0=102&c1=512&c2=929&type=Band/Choir/Orchestra&category=Choir&subcategory=SATB&chkMatchQ=all&SaveCategory=&txtQuickSearch=On%20the%20Night%20Train&priv=1|title=On the Night Train - Morton Music - Musical Resources|accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> *"Wandering" for SATB Choir<ref name="a-cappella.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.a-cappella.com/product/8331/sheet_music_hinshaw_music |title=Hinshaw Music Sheet Music Titles - Wandering: Joseph Twist (Ed. Matthew D.Oltman) (SATB) |accessdate=2011-03-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707072010/http://www.a-cappella.com/product/8331/sheet_music_hinshaw_music |archivedate= 7 July 2011 }}</ref> *"Rain Dream" for SSAA Choir and Piano<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/workversion/twist-joseph-rain-dream/23562|title=Rain dream : for treble voices and piano by Joseph Twist : Work : Australian Music Centre|accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musical-resourcesonlinestore.com/shop/product_view.asp?storeID=B33CA529D61F4CA183ABE5A175CD2C42&menu=0&pr=148638&seg=1&c0=102&c1=512&c2=923&type=Band/Choir/Orchestra&category=Choir&subcategory=SSAA&chkMatchQ=all&SaveCategory=&txtQuickSearch=Rain%20Dream&priv=1|title=Rain Dream - Morton Music - Musical Resources|accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> *"I Dance Myself to Sleep" for Orchestra<ref name="mso.com.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.mso.com.au/cpa/htm/htm_event_detail.asp?page_id%3D1%26program_id%3D1393%26venue_id%3D3 |title=The MSO Website - What's on |accessdate=2011-03-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316151639/http://mso.com.au/cpa/htm/htm_event_detail.asp?page_id=1&program_id=1393&venue_id=3 |archivedate=16 March 2011 }}</ref> *"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" for SATB Choir<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08n2489 BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, Winchester Cathedral]</ref> * "Ubi Caritas" on ''Luminescence'' (2016) by Canticum Chamber Choir<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.move.com.au/disc/luminescence | title=''Luminescence'' | last1=Cox | first1=Emily | last2=Wrench | first2=Christopher | publisher=Move Records | date=December 2016 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170223210329/http://www.move.com.au/disc/luminescence | archive-date=23 February 2017 | access-date=20 December 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * ''An Australian Song Cycle'' for the "Garden of the Soul" programme for Sydney Chamber Choir<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.classikon.com/review-twists-triumphant-australian-song-cycle/ |title=Review: Twist's triumphant Australian Song Cycle |work=Ambassador Thoughts |publisher=classikON |date=21 November 2021 |first=Pepe |last=Newton |access-date=18 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/garden-of-the-soul-sydney-chamber-choir/ |work=Limelight Magazine |title=Review - Garden of the Soul (Sydney Chamber Choir) |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=18 December 2021 |first=Shamistha |last=de Soysa}}</ref> * ''Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan'' commissioned by the Adelaide Festival to commemorate 50 years since the infamous drowning of Dr George Ian Ogilvie Duncan.

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Twist, Joseph}} Category:Living people Category:Australian male composers Category:1982 births Category:Australian LGBTQ composers Category:Australian emigrants to the United States Category:21st-century Australian composers Category:21st-century Australian LGBTQ people Category:Musicians from Queensland Category:Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University alumni Category:University of Melbourne alumni