Charles Royal

Musician, Composer, Researcher Please note, I do not use Facebook for personal correspondence. Born in Auckland, grew up in Wellington. Started playing piano at 8, guitar at 10, writing poetry at 13. Started composing at 15, first music composition teacher, Fr Bruce Goodman, St Patrick's College, Silverstream. At 17, weighed up options of the priesthood or music composition. Chose the latter. Became a student of Jack Body, Ross Harris, David Farquhar and Allan Thomas at the then Victoria University School of Music. Class mates included Helen Bowater, Jonathan Crayford, John Psathas, Danny Pointon, Martin Lodge. While there, lost myself in music - Boulez, Stravinsky, Bartok, Minimalism. Performed in 'Waituhi' by Ross and Witi, saw Butoh for the first time, sat with Peter Sculthorpe during a performance of 'Mangrove' (awesome), saw the amazing 'From Scratch'. Met Lou Harrison, Bela Siki, Noel Sanders, Witi Ihimaera. Composed 'Overture Twelfth Night' and music for Macbeth, among other things. Then discovered t