Biggest NZ Bands Prepare For NZ Music Month
The two biggest 'bands' in the land are preparing to give audiences a heaped helping of Kiwi music during New Zealand Music Month.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra have both programmed a large number of works by New Zealand composers during May. Both have concerts devoted entirely to New Zealand music and composers, and both are also premiering works by Kiwi composers in other concerts this month.
The NZSO will be rehearsing and recording six works by six New Zealand composers in the 14th session of NZSO-SOUNZ Readings on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 May in the Wellington Town Hall. The project, administered by SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music, aims to increase awareness of the rich diversity of orchestral scores by Kiwi composers available for performance. Included in these Readings, which are open to interested observers, will be part of a new Concerto for Bassoon, Jazz Trio and Orchestra commissioned from legendary jazz pianist Mike Nock. For an invitation and programme details, contact SOUNZ.
Later that week, on Friday 9th May, the NZSO will perform a Made in New Zealand concert featuring works by New Zealand composers Helen Bowater, Chris Watson, the late David Farquhar, Richard Fuchs and the premiere of a new piano concerto by Gao Ping featuring the composer as soloist. Whirimako Black will also contribute te reo renditions of popular jazz standards. A pre-concert forum will allow people to talk with the composers, soloists and conductor Kenneth Young, himself an accomplished composer and the 2007 Trans-Tasman Composer Exchange recipient.
The Auckland Philharmonia has also programmed a concert featuring 100% New Zealand music on May 16 in the Auckland Town Hall. Their Discover New Zealand Music concert features works by Dorothy Buchanan, David Hamilton, Ross Harris, John Psathas as well both of their composers in residence: Gareth Farr and Karlo Margetic.
On the previous evening the APO will give the world premiere of another Farr work: Ex Stasis features Deborah Wai Kapohe, Mere Boynton, James Egglestone and George Henare. The conductor for this concert is yet another New Zealand composer: Tecwyn Evans.
And, in a four centre tour, the NZSO will perform a new work by Peter Scholes called Bonk. The single movement work for percussion soloist and orchestra will feature NZSO's veteran performer Bruce McKinnon as soloist. Bonk will be played in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Napier in the last week of Music Month.
More information: