November 2014

What an exciting month it has been for SOUNZ and New Zealand music.

Congratulations to Michael Norris the winner of 2014 SOUNZ Contemporary Award with Inner Phases. The winner was announced at the APRA Silver Scrolls Awards last Thursday. Also at the Silver Scrolls, Douglas Lilburn was posthumously inducted to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

Another wonderful credit to NZ composers, Ross Harris received one of the 2014 Laureate Awards from the Arts Foundation at this year's NZ Arts Awards. Congratulations to Ross.

In other news, we will talk about SOUNZ Director Julie’s trip to the IAMIC and ISCM meetings in Poland, the forth-coming IRMT Conference in January 2015, Chamber Music New Zealand’s Open Stage initiative and much more...

Wellington composer Michael Norris has won the 2014 SOUNZ Contemporary Award with Inner Phases for Chinese instrument ensemble and string quartet.

“I’m really surprised and elated at winning this award, especially with the incredible pieces written by Leonie and Celeste that I was honoured to have as co-finalists. New Zealand is producing such strong, compelling and individual work at the moment, and it’s wonderful to be part of it”, said Michael after receiving the Award at the APRA Silver Scrolls on Thursday 30 October.

Read more about the SOUNZ Contemporary Award.

Also many congratulations to Tom McLeod, winner of APRA Best Original Music in a Series for Girl Vs Boy, and Victoria Kelly, winner of APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film for Field Punishment No.1.

Douglas Lilburn was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the 2014 APRA Silver Scroll Awards. Lilburn is the first classical composer to be included in the New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame, which celebrates and pays tribute to the legendary figures that have shaped, influenced and advanced music in New Zealand.

Lilburn (1915-2001), who has been described as ‘the elder statesman of New Zealand music’ and the ‘grandfather of New Zealand music’, left behind an extraordinary musical legacy.

Eve de Castro Robinson, Chair of SOUNZ Composer Advisory Panel for SOUNZ Contemporary said: "One thing I've noticed over the past few years [at the awards] is the gradual overlap of personnel, music and styles. Apart from more obvious things like Victoria's (Kelly) use of classical musicians in her winning Field Punishment soundtrack or Gareth's (Farr) inspired gamelan arrangement of the Tami Neilson song, many musicians working in other fields have told me how inspiring Douglas’s electro-acoustic work was to them. -- The new screen music awards have encouraged this merging, given the background of film music composers, and it seems that with this integration, the whole show just feels like a celebration of original NZ music."

Another tribute to a remarkable NZ composer has been just announced: congratulations to composer Ross Harris on receiving a 2014 Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation.

One of New Zealand’s leading composers, Harris has written more than two hundred compositions including opera, symphonic music, chamber music, klezmer and electronic music. He has been a finalist in the prestigious SOUNZ Contemporary Award eight times in thirteen years and has won the award four times.

The Arts Foundation’s Laureate Award is an investment in excellence across a range of art forms for an artist with prominence and outstanding potential for future growth. The Laureate Awards are presented to five artists annually.

Read about, listen and view some of Ross' work here.

SOUNZ Director Julie Sperring recently participated in the International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC) conference and the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World Music Days, which both took place in Wroclaw, Poland, last October. Read here about Julie's conference experience. You can also read Julie's presentation at the conference on the theme Traditional music in New Zealand.

Samuel Holloway was New Zealand's represented composer at this year’s ISCM World Music Days. Other delegates from NZ were CANZ President Glenda Keam and CANZ Committee member Mary Binney.

Head of the School of Music at University of Canterbury, Associate Professor Glenda Keam was elected to the Executive Committee of the ISCM. She is the first New Zealander to be appointed to the Committee and the only non-European member. Read the full media release here.

The annual conference of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers (IRMT) takes place in Wellington 15.-18. January 2015. Lilburn’s Legacy: Fostering Musical Creativity Conference will cater for teachers, composers, students and anyone interested in contemporary composition or New Zealand music.

An exciting programme of lectures, talks, master classes and concerts will be of interest to all kinds of music music lovers. Highlights include talks by Lilburn biographer Philip Norman, composer Ross Harris and music educator Elissa Milne, plus concerts by some of New Zealand's leading musicians.

Find more information and registration details here.

In 2015, Chamber Music New Zealand (CMNZ) is encouraging amateur musicians from all over New Zealand to get together to play chamber music. CMNZ are opening their concert stages to amateur performers, giving them the opportunity to play for family and friends, their touring artists and other chamber music fans.

The CMNZ's Open Stage is presented in association with SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. The sessions will take place in the afternoon of the Composer Connections subscription concert in each centre.

"SOUNZ strongly encourages any groups to explore and present New Zealand music as part of this great initiative.  If you are thinking of taking part, please get in touch with us for repertoire suggestions for your ensemble. We’ll do our absolute best to find the perfect piece of music for you," said Julie Sperring, Executive Director of SOUNZ.

Victoria University of Wellington has announced the appointment of Euan Murdoch as the new Director of Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music (NZSM). Euan has been the Chief Executive for Chamber Music New Zealand for nearly ten years.

The New Zealand String Quartet has appointed Christine Argyle as their new manager. Christine is well known through New Zealand music for her work as a Radio New Zealand announcer, as chair of the New Zealand Choral Federation and for her direction of Nota Bene and the Wellington Young Voices children’s choir.

Victoria Kelly has been appointed as the APRA AMCOS NZ Manager of Member Services.

Some of New Zealand’s top young composers will participate in the NZSO TODD Corporation Young Composers Award workshops this December. Their composition will be workshopped, rehearsed, and performed by the NZSO and recorded by Radio New Zealand Concert. This year, participants will be mentored by New Zealand composer Victoria Kelly.

Andrew McMillan's exhibition Incomplete Disconnect is an exploration of sound, video, images and objects, performances and interactive spaces in response to the spinal rehabilitation program he went through in 2013.

The SMP Ensemble presents a concert of Nachtmusik on 14 November in Wellington.

Join the NZTrio for An Afternoon of Beautiful Music on 16 November in Leigh.

The Three Mezzos present Homespun Harmonies, New Zealand composers' music for three voices, on 16 November in Auckland.

Auckland Chamber Orchestra presents  ACO 5, including APRA Professional Development Award winner Alex Taylor's new Bassoon Concerto on 23 November in Auckland.

...And don't forget to check out SOUNZ Christmas Gift Ideas for 2014 to get all your loved ones singing.

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