SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music

03/07/2025

Last week we were thrilled to hear from Miki Eguro, a bassoonist. She had purchased Ken Wilson’s 'Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon' from SOUNZ and shared:

“It is a very wonderful and interesting piece, and we liked it so much that we performed it at a concert in Tokyo.”

Thanks for sharing Miki, we’re so excited to see New Zealand work reaching new audiences around the world! 🇯🇵

KEN WILSON: Duo for Clarinet and BassoonK.ウィルソン作曲 クラリネットとファゴットのための二重奏Ⅰ Prelude and MarchⅡ PastoraleⅢ Scherzo FinaleクラリネットClarinet 上田奈緒 (Nao Ueda)ファゴットBassoon...

02/07/2025

Congratulations to SOUNZ composer Anthony Young for his recent win - his choral work “Wander-Light” will make its international debut at the end-of-festival Gala Concert at Out & Loud, Australia’s largest LGBTIQA+ choir festival, presented in Perth for the first time in 2026!
🏳️‍🌈👏

After an international search, the Out & Loud Festival is excited to announce it has chosen "Wander-Light" by New Zealand based composer Anthony Young as its winning entry!

This composition, inspired by a Henry Lawson poem, will make its international debut at the end-of-festival Gala Concert at Out & Loud, Australia’s largest LGBTIQA+ choir festival, presented in Perth for the first time in 2026.

A massive congratulations to Anthony from the Perth Pride Choir!

Pictured in the above photo are:
• Sammy McSweeney (Perth Pride Choir Accompanist & Song Competition judge)
• Jode Thomas (Perth Pride Choir Convenor)
• Jannette Barrett (Voice Moves Representative)
• Majka McLean-Engstrom (Out & Loud Committee Convenor)
• Mirelle Hopwood (Perth Pride Choir Musical Director & Song Competition judge)

They all send their congratulations to Anthony (pictured below).

Anthony has received a $2,000 cash prize with the generous support of Voice Moves - WA’s major choral association.

02/07/2025

We love it when compositions are born out of a friendship - percussionist Justin DeHart had asked his friend and UC colleague Mark Menzies for a new work for solo percussion around the time the pandemic hit. What resulted was “Scales and Taonga,” with ‘scales’ referring to a dragon sitting in a cave looking at how glittery sounds reflect on its scales, and ‘taonga’ referring to some musical treasures that can be heard within (see if you can guess which pieces Mark references!). This recording is from the 2024 Adam Chamber Music Festival, and Justin introduces the work so the music starts at the 4-minute mark.
Head to our YouTube channel to read the full programme notes.

Audio by Tim Dodd and Darryl Stack for RNZ Concert.
Filmed by Chris Watson for SOUNZ.
Film funded by NZ On Air.

02/07/2025

The winner and finalists of our 2025 SOUNZ Brass Composition Prize are having their works performed tonight at the 2025 Brass Band Association of New Zealand Festival of Brass!

The pieces being performed are:

‘Summer Evening’ by David Woodcock — for B flat cornet and piano
‘Orchid in the Rain’ by YuYang Ding — for tenor horn and piano
‘Field Notes in Autumn’ by Keith Moss — for flugelhorn and piano

The performances will be this evening at the James Hay Theatre, Town Hall, Christchurch, following the conclusion of the ‘An Evening of Melody’ concert, which starts at 8pm.

01/07/2025

How often do you get to hear a live performance that also features audio recorded in the Catchpool Valley, in the Remutaka Forest Park? In today’s SOUNZ Film, we premiere Philip Brownlee’s meditative ‘Catchpool valley, early autumn’ - percussionist and commissioner Justin DeHart is the vibraphone player, along with bird calls, water and tree sounds from the audio recording.

NB the piece starts at 2’41” after Justin’s spoken intro.

Audio by Tim Dodd and Darryl Stack for RNZ Concert.
Filmed by Chris Watson for SOUNZ.
Film funded by NZ On Air.

01/07/2025

Here’s another fascinating listen - New Zealand composer Matthew Suttor talks to Suzanne of Sunday Baroque about incorporating technology into his music as well as his approach towards teaching creativity at both the Yale Department of Music and their School of Drama.

Matthew Suttor Leave a Comment / Interviews, Podcasts / By Julie Freddino New Zealand-born composer and educator Matthew Suttor’s passion for music began when he was a small child. Throughout his career he has explored many facets of music making, with a particular interest in computer music and, ...

30/06/2025

We’re excited to bring you a solo recital by percussionist Justin DeHart, epic champion of NZ music, from the 2024 Adam Chamber Music Festival! First up is Christchurch composer Rosa Elliott’s ‘Landfall’, a piece inspired by the mapping of “a trajectory from celestial soundscape to earthly landing.” NB the video starts with Justin’s spoken intro where he gives a guided tour through all the sounds he’s using - worth a watch! And you can find Rosa’s full programme notes on our YouTube channel.

Audio by Tim Dodd and Darryl Stack for RNZ Concert.
Filmed by Chris Watson for SOUNZ.
Film funded by NZ On Air.

28/06/2025

We're so happy that SOUNZ Films will be capturing the Tomairangi Henare, Paul Whelan, Rebecca Ryan, and Dunedin Symphony Orchestras's performance of this important work by Dame Gillian Whitehead for those who can't make it tonight.

Read more about the little-known story of the Mataatua Whare here:

The little-known story of the Mataatua Whare will be brought to life by the music of Dame Gillian Whitehead, the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and...

27/06/2025

Pianist, composer and improviser Xenia Pestova Bennett first discovered the music of Annea Lockwood as a music student at Victoria University of Wellington. Now, she is releasing an album of Annea's works with Unsound Records Amsterdam. SOUNZ caught up with Xenia ahead of this release and discussed ideas around ear walking, quantum listening and nature-soaked Piano Gardens…

Read more here: https://sounz.org.nz/articles/ear-walking-quantum-listening

26/06/2025

Ōtautahi Christchurch composer and trumpeter Cameron Pearce’s ‘Progression’ is a unique ten-movement work for soloist, brass quintet, and drums. In its original form, as recorded on the eponymous Rattle album, the soloist was trumpeter Ingrid Jensen; in this live performance from Christchurch’s Great Hall, we’re treated to local talent Jimmy Rainey on tenor saxophone.

Featuring Cameron Pearce (trumpet, flugelhorn), Barrett Hocking (trumpet, flugelhorn), Thomas Eves (trumpet), Scott Taitoko (trombone), Pablo Ruiz Henao (bass trombone, tuba), Joe McCallum (drums), and conductor Tom Rainey.

Audio recorded by Alex van den Broek.
Filmed by Chris Watson for SOUNZ.
Film funded by NZ On Air.

25/06/2025

We're so delighted that the 2025 Baysting Prize for Children’s Champion will be awarded to our longtime collaborators Sistema Aotearoa, who work tirelessly to unleash the potential of tamariki, whānau & communities through the power of music-making. Congrats team! 👏

📣 2025 BAYSTING PRIZE FOR CHILDREN’S CHAMPION GOES TO SISTEMA AOTEAROA 📣

APRA AMCOS Aotearoa are delighted to announce the 2025 Baysting Prize for Children’s Champion will be awarded to Sistema Aotearoa - one of the country's most unique and impactful music and social development programmes.

Based out of Ōtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC), Sistema Aotearoa uses orchestral music to nurture confidence, connection, and a deep sense of community. Through their free, intensive, ensemble-based music education, children discover their potential and grow as leaders, learners, and teammates — both on and off the stage.

Sistema Aotearoa will be presented with the Baysting Prize for Children’s Champion at the 2025 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards | Ngā Manu Tīrairaka ceremony, this Sunday 29 June at The Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau. Hosted by Suzy Cato with awards presented by tamariki from across Aotearoa, the invite only ceremony is preceded by a public Sounds Fun event, beginning 10am - tickets available from Moshtix via the 🔗 link in comments. 🔗

25/06/2025

In our latest Meet the Composer we talk to the At the World's Edge Festival 2025 Emerging Composer, Lauren Doherty, about her aesthetic aspirations, recent works and upcoming projects. Read the full article on our website here: https://sounz.org.nz/articles/meet-composer-12