COMPOSER FOR STAGE & SCREEN

Claire Cowan is a versatile and pioneering composer, working across the mediums of film, television, dance and theatre. Starting her career as a concert hall composer and orchestrator, she quickly found her greatest passion lay in crafting soundtracks for stage and screen. A multi-instrumentalist, Claire brings her performance skills to many projects she works on, including playing keys, strings, banjo and guitars.

As a performer, some highlights include leading an orchestra of astronauts during a rain storm, and setting her hand on fire playing percussion with flame throwers. She loves a challenge and is creatively curious in her life and work. Claire works both in Aotearoa NZ, and abroad in the UK, USA and Europe. She is represented by Film Music Agency Oticons. In 2024 was awarded a NZ Te Tumu Toi Arts Laureate for her work in composition. Read more..

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AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

PANNZ Mid-Career FAME Award 2024

Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation Laureate Award 2024
Grand Prize Winner Oticons Faculty International Film Music Contest 2023
Aotearoa Music Awards Winner “Best Classical Artist” 2021
NZTV Award “Best original score” Winner for Runaway Millionaires
Apra Silver Scroll “Best music in a series” Winner for “Hillary” TV series
Apra Silver Scroll “Best music in a series” Nomination for ‘One Lane Bridge’ series 1 & 2
TVNZ ‘Best original score’ Nomination for ‘Hillary’ TV series
Chapman Tripp ‘Best original score’ Nomination for ‘The Keepers’
Auckland University Cultural Blue Award Winner
Auckland University Top Composition Scholar Award Winner
Auckland University 40 under 40 selection
Auckland Philharmonia Young Composers Award Winner
NZ Symphony Orchestra Todd Young Composer Award Winner
Auckland Artist in Parks residency selection
Orchestra Wellington Composer in Residence selection
APRA AMCOS Professional Development Award (Film and TV)