Kia ora and welcome to the June newsletter from the New Zealand School of Music. 

We're excited to be presenting a number of events as part of the Wellington Jazz Festival next week. Robben Ford and Lydia Pense, our two international guest artists for the NZSM Jazz Project, are set to provide a performance of ‘pure musical heart and soul’ on Thursday 7 June, with concert openers the NZSM Big Band showcasing some of our very best jazz talent at the school. On 8 June Dave Wilson brings together a collection of some of New Zealand’s most exciting young musicians for a lunchtime concert. You can also catch a few of the best student big bands and combos from around the country in the NZSM Jazz Project. 

During Queens Birthday Weekend, 13 chamber music groups will receive expert coaching from the New Zealand String Quartet and other staff at the New Zealand School of Music, and there are numerous opportunities to witness these young players in action across the weekend. 

We hope you can join us at one of these events. We'd love to see you!

ROBBEN FORD & LYDIA PENSE

When: Thursday 7 June, 8pm
Where: Opera House
Tickets: $49-59

Robben Ford was named “one of the 100 greatest guitarists of the 20th century” (Musician), and singer Lydia Pense has been a powerful presence on stage for four decades with the band Cold Blood.

A five-time Grammy Award nominee, guitarist Robben Ford’s virtuosic playing and artful songwriting earned him a 2017 debut at #2 on the Blues Charts for his latest album, Into the Sun. Rock-soul-jazz singer Lydia Pense has been said to be imbued with the spirit of Janis Joplin – see her weave her lyrical magic in her first ever performance in New Zealand.

The evening will be opened by a performance from our New Zealand School of Music jazz students – hear the up-and-coming talent of jazz in New Zealand.

DAVE WILSON QUINTET

When: Friday 8 June, 12:10pm
Where: Adam Concert Room 
Free entry

For this special edition of our Friday Lunchtime Concert series, we are excited to present the Dave Wilson Quintet as part of the Wellington Jazz Festival. 

The Dave Wilson Quintet explores modes of composition and improvisation flowing out of bebop, modal jazz, the avant-garde, and the maqam traditions of the Middle East. Wilson’s original compositions fold together layers of time and space through engaging with the sounds of human and natural environments, expressed in the context of the individual and collective improvisation of the members of the quintet.

With Callum Allardice on guitar, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa on drums, Mike Taylor on trumpet, and Chris Beernink on bass, the group is a collection of some of New Zealand’s most exciting young musicians, who daringly weave together the vibrant strands of their local and international experiences in jazz and popular music.

Please note this concert will be filmed. Turn up early to secure a seat as this event is likely to reach capacity.

ROBBEN FORD WORKSHOP

When: Thursday 7 June, 5:30pm
Where: Opera House
$20

Five-time Grammy nominee and guitar virtuoso Robben Ford takes a special workshop where he shares techniques and musical insights with the audience.

JAZZ PROJECT

Catch some of the top jazz students from around the country at some of these events, all of which are free to attend. 

NZSM Jazz Project Big Band Competition 
Thursday 7 June, 8:30am-4pm 
Opera House

The CSUN Jazz "A" Band - free lunchtime concert
Thursday 7 June, 12pm-12:40pm 
Opera House

NZSM Jazz Project Combo Competition 
Friday 8 June, 8:30am-3pm
Memorial Theatre Foyer and SU310, Victoria University of Wellington Kelburn campus

JAZZ KŌRERO: TALKING ABOUT GENDER AND JAZZ IN NZ​

Friday 8 June, 5:30pm 
The Third Eye, Free entry

This isn't presented by NZSM but it looks so good we want to let everyone know about it! 

At this roundtable event hosted by The Third Eye, join eminent New Zealand jazz historian Dr Aleisha Ward, with New Zealand School of Music Jazz Studies lecturer Dr Dave Wilson and a panel of prominent musicians – including saxophonist Eilish Wilson, drummer Lauren Ellis, All Girl Big Band co-founder Lana Law and Radio New Zealand Concert host Dr Nick Tipping.

The panel and audience will explore how women have been represented in the jazz world, their experiences on the local jazz scene, how those experiences shape participation in jazz for both musicians and audiences in New Zealand, and how we can all work towards positive change in the jazz scene. More info

A WAYANG FOR CIREBON

(SHADOW PUPPET SHOW)

When: Saturday 30 June 7pm
Where: Adam Concert Room
Tickets $30. School aged children are free.

In April 2018 a gamelan rehearsal in Gegesik village, Cirebon, NW Java, was struck by tragedy when a wall adjacent to the rehearsal space collapsed on top of the players, killing seven youngsters, aged between 12 –15 years, and their teacher, dhalang Mas Herman Basari.

Allan Thomas brought the first gamelan to New Zealand from Cirebon in 1974. Later named The First Smile, the ensemble is still played by a local Wellington group who are embarking on a fund-raising campaign to send support to Gegesik village and families affected by the tragedy. Plans are already underway there to purchase a new gamelan, and dedicate it to the memory of those who died.

The programme for this concert will include a wayang kulit (shadow puppet show), The Fall of Gathutkaca, performed by dhalang Ki Joko Susilo, accompanied by Gamelan Padhang Moncar of the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington. 

This fundraising event is supported by the New Zealand School of Music

POSTPONED: CONCERTO COMPETITION

The NZSM Concerto Competition that was scheduled for Thursday 31 May has now been postponed to July - stay tuned for more details in the July Dawn Chorus newsletter. 

QUEENS BIRTHDAY CHAMBER MUSIC WEEKEND

When: 2-4 Jun
Where: Adam Concert Room
Free entry

Hosted by the New Zealand String Quartet, the Queens Birthday Chamber Music Weekend offers chamber music groups expert, professional coaching from the NZSQ and other staff at the New Zealand School of Music. There are a number of free events open to the public during the weekend.

Masterclasses 
Saturday 2 June 1.15pm & 3pm 
Sunday 3 June 2.15pm & 4pm 

Final Concert: Monday 4 June 2pm 
Chamber music groups who have been part of the Queens Birthday Chamber Music Weekend perform in a final concert.

GAMELAN ENSEMBLE CONCERT

When: Monday 11 June, 6:30pm
Where: Asia Pacific Music Studio, New Zealand School of Music

Students from the gamelan ensemble course PERF250 perform an end-of-trimester concert. Seating is limited so arrive early to guarantee a seat.

LUNCHTIME CONCERT: WIND ENSEMBLE IN THE HUB

When: Friday 1 June, 12:10pm 
Where: The Hub, Victoria University of Wellington

The New Zealand School of Music Wind Ensemble perform a free lunchtime concert in the Hub.

NEWS

CONDUCTOR GEMMA NEW MAKING WAVES

Photo credit Studio Guidon

NZSM alumna Gemma New recently conducted the Albany Symphony Orchestra in the US premiere of fellow NZSM alumna Salina Fisher’s NZSO commission ‘Tupaia’. Since then she has returned to New Zealand to conduct the Auckland Philharmonia and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Gemma’s busy schedule also includes her position as music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Canada as well as being Resident Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in the USA. Listen to her talk to RNZ about her growing career here.

NZSM GRADS DOMINATE JAZZ AWARDS

Congratulations to NZSM graduates Lucien Johnson and Umar Zakaria, finalists for the Recorded Music NZ Best Jazz Artist award, and Callum Allardice and Jake Baxendale for Best Jazz Composition. The winner of both the Recorded Music NZ Best Jazz Album and APRA Best Jazz Composition will be announced on 6 June. Pretty much ALL the finalists are Wellingtonians, proving that this city is pretty much the centre of the jazziverse we think!

A TRANSCENDANT FORM OF COMMUNICATION

Recent DMA graduate Dr Lucien Johnson’s research examines Ethio-Jazz and explores the ways in which music can travel and be adopted by musicians in search of their own sense of identity and individuality. 

PREMIERE OF SIMON EASTWOOD'S INFINITY MIRROR

On 18 May, Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings performed the world premiere of Infinity Mirror, a new work by Wellington composer and NZSM DMA student Simon Eastwood. The work was written specially for the two orchestras and was selected as the first ever SOUNZ Commission for Emerging Players. Simon is also about to embark on a 'composing in the wilderness' festival in the Arctic, which we eagerly await updates about! Read more...

SNIPPETS

NZSM Sonic Arts graduate Daniel Beban has been named the Lilburn Research Fellow 2019.

Radio NZ made this fun wee video of Shlomo Mintz when he was here at NZSM. 

Ailsa Lipscombe won a distinguished student paper prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology. 

Read a great review of the stunning recent Duruflé Requiem concert by Orpheus Choir and the NZSM Orchestra here. 

The National Library have written a blog about compiling the John Psathas collection, which comprises papers, original scores, draft and sketch scores, and sound and video recordings from various projects he worked on. And it totals 7.18 Linear Metres!

Past NZSM Composer in Residence Dame Gillian Whitehead recently received the Arts Foundation's highest honour, an Icon Award. 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

MERI HAAMI

You recently graduated with a Masters - what was this in?

I recently graduated with a Master of Music in Musicology. The research was collaborative with my hapū, Ngāti Ruakā, which is apart of the iwi, Te Āti Haunui-a-pāpārangi who originate from the Whanganui Awa. This research explored Ngāti Ruakā perspectives on the preservation of hapū waiata and oral taonga, and it examines Whanganui kaiponu as a culturally appropriate methodology and research framework. Ngāti Ruakā were central to the study of hapū taonga within this research.

I felt that this research was important as it presents an analysis of waiata through the decolonisation of western frameworks and methodologies on waiata study that have been used previously in ethnomusicology. Additionally, this research aimed to provide interdisciplinary bridging of ethnomusicology and waiata Māori studies.

What is your PhD at NZSM going to be focused on?

My PhD will focus on researching collaboratively with Ngāti Ruakā more comprehensively. This research will explore the relationship between Ngāti Ruakā and the marae, Rānana, the Whanganui awa and hapū waiata. This research aims to illuminate a different perspective of examining the well-being of the Whanganui Awa.  This study will be contextualised within the field of ecomusicology, which is a growing field within wider ethnomusicology and will therefore, study the ways in which the Whanganui Awa has informed hapū waiata composition, spiritual meanings, performance and oral knowledge traditions.

Why did you choose this?

I chose this area of study as there are not many Māori studying Māori music, waiata or ethnomusicology - Māori voices about Māori music are vital and need to be represented. It was also important for me to study my own people by going back to the Whanganui Awa, reconnecting with my Nannies and Koro's again as well as reinforcing my own understandings of my identity as Māori through both whakapapa and tūrangawaewae. I also love this area of study - I have been performing through song and dance since I was a child and my first performance was in front of my whānau at my Nannies 60th and I remember that I sung a waiata I had learnt. Waiata has always held a special place for me. 

You recently received the Te Mana o Te Awa award - can you tell us about this and what it was for?

I recently received a Te Mana o Te Awa Scholarship (valued at $10,000) and this is a part of Whanganui Iwi Initiatives and from an Whanganui iwi organisation called, Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui. This scholarship is given to Whanganui iwi members undertaking tertiary study that will contribute to the health and well-being of the Whanganui Awa, iwi as well as Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui Awa recognised as legal personhood). 

What is your musical background?

In terms of my musical background, I have been singing since I was a child and this grew throughout my schooling and tertiary education. I have been in musicals; Annie, Oliver! and High School Musical 2; the only female vocalist for the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra (2009-2010); been a part of Jazz quartets, been a front woman for cover and original rock bands and sung as a backing vocalist for my colleagues and friends. I studied previously at the University of Otago towards a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Music Performance (Voice) and then went on to complete my Bachelor of Music with Honours (Second Class, First Division) in Music Research and Contemporary Vocal Performance. During my time at Otago University, I learnt to play piano and I began my band 'Miss', which celebrates the Māori aesthetic through an electronic, rock and trap two piece set up with my partner and guitarist, Barnabas Cook and we regularly gig within the Manawatū, Whanganui and Wellington area. 

What inspires you?  

What inspires me is seeing Māori excellence, musical excellence and overall growth within creatives and students. My whānau also inspire me, which includes all of my beautiful four older sisters and my little brother as well as my Mother, Dr. Carole Ann Fernandez and my Father, Tumanako Haami. 

I would like to give a huge thank you and shout out to Dr. Brian Diettrich, who is my supervisor as well as Dr. Maria Bargh! They helped me get to where I am and I am very grateful. 

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: