A message from Sally Jane Norman, Director, New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōkī

We believe music as a source of cultural diversity to be uniquely empowered to bring people together. At NZSM – Te Kōkī, the infinite forms of artistic expression constitute a core value our School respects and nurtures. Our March ‘Night Hub’ evening with our longstanding Indonesian Embassy partners and Gamelan Wellington, featuring NZSM’s Gamelan Padhang Moncar and Gamelan Taniwha Jaya, and dancer Mrs Sri Mulyani, offered a vibrant celebration of music’s movement across and through cultures. Exactly a week after the attacks on Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, this celebration took on memorable significance. Mr Agam Jaya’s opening prayer and moment of silence, and Indonesian Embassy representative Mrs Adek Triana Yudhaswari’s eloquent reflection on the Christchurch events and the importance of our sustained, creative links, resonated with our hundreds of Night Hub participants (his Excellency Mr. Tantowi Yahya, Indonesian Ambassador and an enthusiastic NZSM partner and collaborator, was in Christchurch).

Megan Collins presented the instruments, their ever-changing configurations and musical contexts, with enjoyable skill, and Budi S. Putra, NZSM gamelan tutor and Embassy partner, teamed gracefully with Mrs Sri Mulyani’s vivid choreographic presence. Children – and adults – thronged to discover the joys of the gamelan in the wake of the performance. The Gamelan Night Hub allowed us all to breathe deeply and in time. 

Kia kaha.  السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُم

EVENTS

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. 
Free entry, registrations due by 1 April. 

NZSM BIG BAND ONE AT THE ROGUE

When: Thursday 11 April, 9:30pm
Where: The Rogue and Vagabond
Free entry.

Come along to local jazz institution Rogue and Vagabond to see some of the finest jazz talent that NZSM has to offer, directed by Rodger Fox. Catch the NZSM Big Band rehearsing here for a little preview of what to expect. 

FILM LAUNCH: TICKET GIVEAWAY

When: Monday 8 April, 5.30pm reception, 6.15-7.45pm film screening
Where: Black Sparrow Bar & Embassy Deluxe Cinema

We have 10 double passes to give away for the New Zealand premiere screening of Christoph Graupner - for viola d’amore and more. 

Filmed on location at the 13th-century Owinska Monastery in Poland, this documentary is a major contribution to the international rediscovery of the exquisitely beautiful viola d’amore and the music of Christoph Graupner. The film features Victoria University of Wellington Professor Donald Maurice as viola d’amore soloist, with Orkiestra Ars Longa of Poznan, Poland conducted by Eugeniusz Dąbrowski.

To be in to win one of the double passes, email nzsmevents@vuw.ac.nz with 'Film giveaway' in the subject line. You'll be notified by 4 April if you're one of the winners. 

ps if you miss out, and would still like to attend, there is a 2nd, public screening at 8:15pm on the same night - tickets are $20 and can be booked by emailing tamarikilc@gmail.com

PASSAGES, A RESPONSE

When: Thursday 28 March, 6pm
Where: Adam Art Gallery, free entry

passages, a response brings together five postgraduate composers from NZSM. Jesse Austin-Stewart, Sharyn Brand, Marcus Jackson, Jimi Wilson and Jack Woodbury will each respond to the exhibition Passages, situating their own compositional work within the spaces occupied by Luke Fowler, Florian Hecker and Susan Philipsz.

This event is the first of two responsive performances by NZSM, presented by Adam Art Gallery. The second performance will take place at Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi on Saturday 13 April, 6pm. More info

FRIDAY LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

SMP ENSEMBLE

Friday 12 April, 12:10pm 
Adam Concert Room

NZSM performers and composers have been working closely to produce a scintillating and imaginative concert. Flautist, Samantha McSweeney, alongside other NZSM performance students, will present a coruscating collage of new and recent works by Micah Thompson, Imogen Moore, Jack Bewley, and Jenny McLeod. Works include: Whakamru; Mist (a short story), Wash. (another short story) by Micah Thompson, Meeting of the Seas by Imogen Moore, Early Bird Catches a Warm by Jack Bewley and a selection of Jenny McCloud's Tone Clock Pieces performed by Liam Furey.

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 anyone to attend. 

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

VOICING THE REAL IN EXTREME METAL: HORROR, GENDER AND THE GROWL

Rosemary Overell - Lecturer in Communications Studies, University of Otago
Wednesday 10 April 4:15pm, Room 209

COMPOSER WORKSHOP

Composer Workshop is a varied programme of guest presentations by established composers discussing their work, and workshop performances of student compositions. 

DAVID CHISHOLM

Wednesday 27 March 3:10pm, Adam Concert Room 

BLAKE JOHNSTON

Wednesday 3 April 3:10pm, Adam Concert Room

NEWS

JAZZ GRADS OPEN FOR RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

Tunes of I, a band made up entirely of jazz graduates from NZSM, opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers on Saturday 9 March at Spark Arena. Read our interview with band member Conway Jeune (second from left) below. 

JAZZ ALUMNI JOIN WITH CLASSICAL STAFF TO PERFORM MUSIC BY CHARLIE PARKER

NZSM jazz alumni Daniel Hayles, Rory Macartney, Lauren Ellis, Eilish Wilson and Louisa Williamson will be sharing the stage with the famed New Zealand String Quartet to present 'Charlie Parker with Strings' in April. Read more... 

SNIPPETS...

Stephanie Engelbrecht, who completed a PGDip in Sonic Arts a few years ago, has been working for Weta Gameshop since then. One of her recent projects, "Dr Grordbort's Invaders", was recently nominated for a Game Audio Network Guild Award for Best VR Audio. 

Pasquale Orchard and Will King were involved in NZ Opera's production of The Barber of Seville for Capital E - hear Pasquale talking about it on RNZ here. 

Four NZSM students have been selected to participate in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Program this year. Grant Baker, Olivia Wilding, Finn Bodkin-Oien and Nickolas Majic will take part in program in 2019, gaining valuable experience with the orchestra. Observing and playing in NZSO rehearsals and lessons with NZSO Principals are just some of the exciting opportunities that the students will benefit from. 

On Monday 18 March, NZSM PhD student Corrina Connor participated in the Chopper Swim Challenge, which involved swimming just over 20 kilometres from Waiheke Island through the Hauraki Gulf to Tamaki Drive. Corrina took part as an individual, swimming the 20 kilometres solo, with a support kayaker who guided her, and carried some food and fluids. The swim took her 5 and a half hours. The event raises money for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust - help out her fundraising efforts here.

GRADUATE Q&A: CONWAY JEUNE

Conway Jeune graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Jazz Performance in 2015. He is a member of the band Tunes of I, who recently opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Give us a brief history of Tunes of I

We all met at jazz school but the beginning of the band was between myself, Mudz Chadwick (original drummer), Louis Gray (original bass player) and Bryn van Vliet (saxophone). Then over a few years and a couple line up changes we now have myself, Makura Tomoana (bass), Luther Hunt (drums), Jules Blewman (guitar), Bryn van Vliet (saxophone) and Kaito Walley (trombone).

You all studied jazz at NZSM – did you study together at the same time, and what led to you forming the band?

Myself, Bryn and Kaito were in the same year at jazz school. We played in combos together throughout most of our time at the NZSM. Makura was a year above us. Jules was a year below us and Luther was a year below him. I think when myself, Mudz, Louis and Bryn formed the band we were using it as a means to play other music that wasn't specifically jazz. NZSM was great for practicing and getting your chops up on your instrument, as well as meeting heaps of awesome people. But Tunes was a nice escape from shredding in the practice rooms.

It’s interesting to note how many jazz graduates go on to be successful playing other styles of music – why do you think this is?

I think it's because of the melting pot of influences and people that go through the NZSM. Almost everyone that comes through the school is serious and wants to do something with their music, so the passion is there, the dedication is there and the good people are there too.

Does it make a difference to have a jazz background in terms of how you make music together/ approach being in a band?

It definitely does! It means that we can easily explain and grasp onto each others ideas and differing forms of expression. But that being said it's also quite hard to get out of the "jazz school" mind frame too and sometimes it forces you to over think too much as well. It's amazing, but also sometimes tricky to turn off.

In 10 words or less, how would you describe the music of Tunes of I?

Dub rock with a sprinkle of funk and soul.

What are some of the other highlights for the band from the last little while?

We did our first international tour (2 times) last year! Getting over to Auzzy had been a big goal of ours for a long time and we got to head over there the first time to support our mates Ocean Alley on their album release tour. It was an amazing opportunity for us where we got to play to 1500-3000 every show. While we were on that tour we were seen by 123 Agency who Ocean Alley are signed to and they got us on board and bought us back over for our own headline Auzzy tour 2 months later. Yeah, it was pretty crazy to hit our own tour over there after such a short amount of time but there's a real scene for our sound over there, so that was super exciting for us.

What’s next for the band?

Next for Tunes is Cuba Dupa this weekend, and then at the start of April we're going on tour with Ocean Alley for two shows at the Powerstation in Auckland and two shows at the Hunter Lounge in Wellys. We're also currently working on our next album, so a lot of writing, mahi and love going into that. Keep a look out for some fresh things coming your way soon!

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: