We were thrilled to meet all our new students yesterday—we welcomed them with a powhiri in the NZSM courtyard with the stirring sounds of taonga puoro, and a whaikōrero by our Deputy Director Dugal McKinnon on the 'voices' of Te Kōkī, the Dawn Chorus. 

Classes start next week, and we're looking forward to a year of vibrant, diverse and ear-opening concerts and activities. Read about our upcoming events and recent staff and student news below. 

EVENTS

NIGHT HUB

When: Friday 22 March, 6PM
Where: The Hub, Victoria University of Wellington
Free entry

Transport yourself to the temples of Bali and courts of Java with this unique concert experience, featuring a top dancer from Indonesia performing alongside our two unique 'gong orchestras'. Don't miss this free concert held in the heart of the University - the Night Hub series is always popular so turn up early to get a good spot! More... 

EMBODYING AND PERFORMING SOUND:
ONE DAY SYMPOSIUM

When: Saturday 6 April, 9am-4:30pm
Where: Adam Concert Room

In making sense of sound, we unfailingly rely on our bodies and on bodily metaphors, often unconsciously. This day conference will explore the far-reaching principles and implications of embodying sound in a variety of art forms. Speakers and schedule to be announced shortly - check back here for updates. 
All welcome - free entry, registrations will open soon. 

OPEN ORCHESTRA READING: 'THE PLANETS'

When: Thursday 21 March, 4:30-6pm
Where: Adam Concert Room
Free entry

For this new event format, the NZSM Orchestra will play selections from Gustav Holst's The Planets for a reading in the Adam Concert Room, conducted by Kenneth Young. The NZSO is performing this later in the month so this is a perfect opportunity to have a 'warm up' experience with the NZSM Orchestra. Note that this is a workshop, rather than a concert, so some rehearsing will take place. Capacity will be limited so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot at this unique event. More...

NZSO FOUNDATION MASTERCLASS:
SUSAN GRAHAM (MEZZO-SOPRANO)

When: Monday 25 March 7:30PM
Where: Adam Concert Room
Free entry

Take this exciting opportunity to sit in on an open masterclass with NZSM students and renowned vocalist, American mezzo-soprano, Susan Graham, who is here to perform Berlioz’s La Mort de Cléopâtre with the NZSO on 30 March. More...

FRIDAY LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

MUSIC FORUM

Music Forum is a seminar series hosted by the NZSM Music Studies Programme. Staff, graduate students, and distinguished visiting speakers present recently completed research, or discuss work in progress. Music Forum is open to all members of the University community and the public. Admission is free.

MUSIC AND METHOD IN THE FILMS OF ELIA KAZAN

Dr Gregory Camp - Senior Lecturer in Music Studies, University of Auckland
Wednesday 13 March, 4:15pm, Room 209. More info

HAVE WE EVER BEEN URBAN?
EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC MAKING IN NEW ZEALAND'S "CULTURAL CAPITAL"

Geoff Stahl - Senior Lecturer in Media Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
Wednesday 27 March 4.15pm, Room 209 More info

COMPOSER WORKSHOP

Composer Workshop is a varied programme of guest presentations by established composers discussing their work, and workshop performances of student compositions. Composition students from all levels attend these sessions, and certain sessions (those listed below) are also open to the University community and general public. Admission is free.

EMI POGONI

Wednesday 13 March, 3:10pm, Adam Concert Room

DAVID CHISHOLM

Wednesday 27 March 3:10pm, Adam Concert Room 

NEWS

HIDDEN WOMEN ON THE PUBLIC STAGE

Orchestra of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition (1889). Photograph by David de Maus. Collection of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Album 78, No. 15.

Paris, Boston and Melbourne are just a few of the places New Zealand School of Music Associate Professor Dr Inge van Rij will visit as she embarks on the first stage of her Marsden Fund research on gender and culture in orchestras of the long 19th century. Read more...

ANNOUNCING THE 2019 NZSM OPERA
(or should we say operas...) 

Two operas will be performed by our students in 2019, Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi - two pocket-sized gems that will be presented as a double bill at the Hannah Playhouse from 19 – 21 July.

New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) voice students will be accompanied by the NZSM Orchestra for the performance, and making this year’s opera production event more special, professional opera singers Margaret Medlyn and Robert Tucker will also be joining the students on stage. Read more...

MUSIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE PACIFIC:
Podcast by Brian Diettrich

The US-based Society for Ethnomusicology features Dr Brian Diettrich of the New Zealand School of Music in a new podcast programme talking about his research into the relationships between music, dance and the environment in the western Pacific. According to Brian, music and dance in the Pacific Islands demonstrate close relationships with the environment, both land and sea, and these connections have only begun to be explored in research. LIsten to the podcast here. 

JOIN VIC VOICES

Victoria Voices is a non-auditioned choir that is open to all members of the wider University community and participation is free of charge. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings in the Adam Concert Room at the New Zealand School of Music from 7.15pm to 8.45pm. The ensemble, conducted by Robert Tucker, sings a diverse range of repertoire and focuses on building musicianship in a fun and sociable environment. Music reading is an advantage, but whatever your singing experience, come and join us: you will be made very welcome.

Rehearsals start on Wednesday 6 March.

To join the choir, email music@vuw.ac.nz or put your name on the sign up sheet by the Music reception.

NEW BOOK BY DAVE WILSON

NZSM's Dave Wilson has a new book out, and it looks deeply interesting! It covers 'the oldest forms of human music making and the newest' and considers music from a global rather than a Eurocentric perspective. We think it's a must for music lovers everywhere, not just university students. It has a fantastic companion website, especially the 'students' tab where you can listen to audio tracks of all the music discussed in the book. There is also an accompanying Spotify playlist too. Check it out here https://bit.ly/2DZqlcI

NEW STAFF

We are delighted to have two new staff join us this month - David Barnard, Head Accompanist and Vocal Coach, and Wade Kernot, Lecturer in Classical Performance (voice).

Look out for some profiles of them in this very newsletter in the coming months!  

NZSM STUDENT IN NATIONAL CONCERTO COMPETITION FINALS 

Congratulations to NZSM student Isabella Gregory (flute), who is a finalist in the National Concerto Competition coming up on 23 March. The National Concerto Competition is an annual musical competition for young people aged 25 years and under. It has a strong national reputation and many competitors have gone onto prominent careers in the music industry both nationally and internationally. 

NZ STARS ALIGN...

NZSM graduate Salina Fisher's Rainphase will be performed by the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington DC) in Jan 2020, conducted by none other than NZ conductor Gemma New. 

And in more exciting news for Salina Fisher - she is one of 7 composers selected for the LA Phil National Composers Intensive 2019. She'll be working with ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble) on a new piece to be performed and recorded in LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Support the musicians, composers and scholars of the future

For some of New Zealand's most talented musicians, the only thing that stands in the way of their dreams is the lack of funds to make them real. For further information on how you can provide support for students at the New Zealand School of Music, please contact either: