We are delighted to be joining Orpheus Choir in May for one of their concerts . Our conductor Kenneth Young is especially thrilled that Duruflé's Requiem is on the programme, having been 'obsessed' with the work since he first heard it at age 17. Hear it in its full orchestral glory on 26 May.
We also have another Night Hub edition (this time with the New Zealand String Quartet and RNZB dancer Loughlan Prior), our annual Concerto Competition, a return to the Bristol, and some stellar lunchtime concerts and music forums in May. We'd love to see you at some of these events - until then stay warm!
When: Saturday 26 May, 7:30pm
Where: Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Tickets: $15/30
The New Zealand School of Music Orchestra joins Orpheus Choir for this special performance in the beautiful Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. The concert also features two acclaimed soloists from the NZSM classical voice department, Jenny Wollerman (soprano) and James Clayton (baritone).
First up is a unique performance of Duruflé’s divine Requiem. The full orchestral version will be performed (we think for the first time in New Zealand!), with soloists Jenny Wollerman and James Clayton. The Requiem transports us to a place of transcendent beauty, contrasting brilliantly with the other major work in the concert, Dvorak’s joyous and exuberant Te Deum.
NIGHT HUB 2
with the New Zealand String Quartet and Loughlan Prior
When: Friday 18 May, 6:15pm
Where: The Hub, Victoria University of Wellington
Tickets: FREE!
Join the New Zealand String Quartet for a special concert of high voltage music in the Hub at Victoria University. Accompanying them for one of the pieces will be RNZB dancer and choreographer Loughlan Prior.
Bartok - String Quartet No. 4 | Beethoven - Große Fuge | Psathas - Abhisheka
Cash bar available
Free entry
CONCERTO COMPETITION
When: Thursday 31 May, 7pm
Where: Adam Concert Room
Free entry
The NZSM Concerto Competition sees some of our most talented students compete for the chance to perform a full concerto with the NZSM Orchestra later in the year. Our adjudicators this year are pianist Diedre Irons, and Ellen Deverall, Associate Principal Clarinet of NZSO.
NZSM JAZZ GROUPS AT THE BRISTOL
When: Thursday 17 May, 8:30pm
Where: The Bristol, Cuba Street
Free entry
The New Zealand School of Music returns once again to the Bristol for a night of high energy jazz. The music starts at 8:30pm and runs until late - turn up earlier for a good seat.
FRIDAY LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
TE KŌKĪ SOCIETY TAKEOVER!
When: Friday 4 May, 12:10pm
Where: Adam Concert Room
For this special lunchtime concert, the Te Kōkī Music Society have taken the reins and present a student-curated programme of performances. The Te Kōkī Music Society's aim is for students and alumni to share and enjoy music across the University.
CONCERTI D'AMORE
When: Friday 11 May, 12:10pm
Where: Adam Concert Room, free entry
The viola d’amore is an intriguing instrument with sympathetic strings, chiefly used during the Baroque period. In this concert, Donald Maurice is joined by special guests and students of the New Zealand School of Music, playing concerti by Vivaldi, Graupner, and an anonymous Polish composer!
ATAATA-RONGO AOTEAROA
When: Friday 18 May, 12:10pm
Where: Adam Concert Room, free entry
Dugal McKinnon, Rob Thorne and Thomas Voyce present a concert of electroacoustic and audiovisual works to celebrate New Zealand Music Month. This concert will be a unique listening experience, created using an immersive array of loudspeakers in the Adam Concert Room. Come along and open your ears to new sonic directions in New Zealand music.
NZ SIX HANDS TRIO
When: Friday 25 May, 12:10pm
Where: Adam Concert Room, free entry
The NZ Six Hands Trio is made up of three Wellington pianists: Hamish Robb, Nicole Chao and Beth Chen. These pianists went through their Masters Performance degrees together, at the same time, at the New Zealand School of Music, over 15 years ago.
YOUNG MUSICIANS PROGRAMME CONCERTS
NZSQ PLAYS YMP COMPOSITIONS
When: Wednesday 16 May, 7:30pm
Where: Adam Concert Room, free entry
The Young Musicians Programme Composition Class present student compositions, performed by the New Zealand String Quartet.
YMP CLASSICAL CONCERTS
When: Saturday 19 May & Saturday 26 May, 2pm
Where: Adam Concert Room, free entry
YMP students perform solos and group pieces for piano, woodwind and strings. Chamber groups who are preparing for the NZCT Chamber Contest will also perform.
YMP JAZZ CONCERT
When: Monday 28 May, 6pm
Where: Room SU310, free entry
Come and enjoy performances by students in our Young Musicians Programme’s three combos.
MUSIC FORUM
JAZZY NERVES, ACHING FEET, AND FOXTROTS: NEW ZEALAND'S JAZZ AGE
Wednesday 2 May, 4:15pm, Room 209
Dr Aleisha Ward, Douglas Lilburn Research Fellow (2017)
'SIGNIFICANTLY OTHERED': LIMP BIZKIT AND THE MARGINALISATION OF NU METAL
Wednesday 16 May, 4:15pm, Room 209
Dr Catherine Hoad, Massey University
L'AIR CHINOIS
Wednesday 23 May, 4:15pm, Room 209
Dr Nathan Martin, University of Michigan
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES ARRANGED FOR THE CHAMBER BY HIS CONTEMPORARIES
Wednesday 30 May, 4:15pm, Room 209
AProf Nancy November, University of Auckland
NEWS
THE PUSH AND PULL OF MULTICULTURAL EXCHANGE
Victoria University lecturer Vincent Olsen-Reeder wrote this beautiful article on the Spinoff about collaborating with Creative New Zealand Jack C. Richards Composer-in-Residence Rob Thorne and the New Zealand String Quartet, for their concert Te Ao Hou. Read it here.
NZSM BIG BAND OFF TO CHRISTCHURCH
On May 5 the NZ School of Music Big Band travels to Christchurch to perform alongside the University of Canterbury Christchurch Youth Orchestra in an exciting fusion of classical and jazz. The concert will be held in the Charles Luney Auditorium. More info
NEW JAZZ SERIES: ARTHUR STREET LOFT ORCHESTRA
The Arthur Street Loft Orchestra is a new weekly concert series, presenting music for jazz orchestra local composers, most of whom have studied or taught at the NZSM.
April and May features the work of Jake Baxendale, Jasmine Lovell-Smith, Callum Allardice, Daniel Hayles, Lucien Johnson and John Rae.
The series takes place every Monday, upstairs at The Third Eye, and includes a range of music, from introspective chamber jazz to Ethio-inspired electronic invocations.
More info here.
THE MANY EXPRESSIONS OF SHLOMO MINTZ
World renowned violinist Shlomo Mintz gave a masterclass for NZSM students in April - check out some of the photos here.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
JOSE MANUEL SILVA JUGO
I’m studying a Bachelor of Music with a double major in Composition and Music Studies, specialising in Instrumental/Vocal Composition and Musicology respectively.
I initially decided to take up guitar lessons in Year 9 just because music class required me to, never really thinking that it’ll lead to anything. However, I ended up really enjoying the lessons and studying music in general. I decided to carry on with my music tuition and when the time came to decide what to study in university, I chose music.
Composition and music studies always fascinated me throughout high school and I really enjoyed studying them. When choosing what to major in, I couldn’t decide on just one while sacrificing the other so I decided to major in both.
Without a doubt the best thing about studying both music studies and composition is when certain things I learn about in music studies act as inspiration for future compositions. Occasionally, I’ll learn how a certain composer from a specific time period treated the compositional process or how a non-Western culture treats certain musical aspects and I’ll find myself experimenting with new compositions based on that knowledge.
I took part in a gamelan class last year and as a part of the course, we played in a concert alongside other gamelan ensembles. It was the first concert that I’ve attended where the entire programme comprised of non-Western music. There was no classical, jazz, pop, or rock music, just traditional Indonesian gamelan music. It kind of served as a reminder that music is not just restricted to our Western culture, but it shared among all peoples and cultures. I really enjoyed it.
I think it’s really important to take a break every now and then and relax. It’s not good to be in ‘study-mode’ all the time and be in a constant state of intensity. That’s not to say, though, that I think you should take breaks at the expense of classes, assignments, and practice. Just make the most of your spare time and unwind; read a book, hang out with friends, play video games, stuff like that.
After I graduate I hope to be able to compose for media, whether that be films, television, video games, or similar mediums.
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:
Rosalene Fogel
Development Manager
Victoria University of Wellington Foundation
Ph: 0800 VIC LEGACY (0800 842 534)
Email: rosalene.fogel@vuw.ac.nz
www.victoria.ac.nz/foundation
