After 15 years living and working in China, Australian-born composer John Huie has spent the last two years between Shanghai and Sydney, planning for his return to Australia as Artistic Director of first Chinese Gardens Chamber Music Festival, in February 2009. During this time he has produced two string quartets, three piano trios and ‘The New China Concerto’ for the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra with two traditional Chinese instruments.
John moved from Sydney to Hong Kong in 1991 and, while there, scored the music for two world-release feature films by Golden Harvest, three short films for the Hong Kong Tourist Association and a string of documentaries for various Asian film companies. He also lectured on music for film at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong Arts Centre.
Commissioned by the HKSAR (Hong Kong Government) in 1997, John composed and produced ‘The Honourable Retreat’, a musical tribute to the handover of Hong Kong to China, the concert and CD featured some of the finest Chinese instrumentalists in the territory.
Moving to Shanghai in 2002, he spent three years researching and re-creating the authentic songs and style of Shanghai in the 1930’s. The result became the albums “Shanghai Jazz” 1 and 2 that were recently released by EMI.
Expanding on the concept, Huie continued to write for small ensembles using a combination of traditional European and Chinese instruments, culminating in the release of ‘New Shanghai’, also with EMI. This featured a Suite in Four Movements, “1421”, inspired by the 15th century eunuch admiral, Zheng He, and the voyages of the Chinese treasure fleet.
During this time, Huie wrote for a variety of chamber groups and films including the “The White Countess” by legendary New York-based film duo Merchant Ivory.
A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium High School, John's first major work was written and performed at the age of sixteen - The Eclectic Mass, performed for ‘The Millennium Of Masses’ concert at the Sydney Town Hall. Huie won an Arts Council composers scholarship along with Carl Vine.
After graduation, John went on to write and produce works commissioned by bodies including The Sydney Choral Society, The Australian Film Commission, The Australia Council and the ABC, as well as film scores for numerous Australian commercial directors.
John has composed and performed works for a variety of ensembles including ‘The Posh’, a chamber ensemble which toured extensively for Musica Viva.