NZ Composer Sessions

NZ Composer Sessions

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), RNZ Concert and SOUNZ are re-launching the NZSO-RNZ Concert-SOUNZ Recordings as NZ Composer Sessions this year.

The project, which started as NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (1998-2011), a collaborative project between the NZSO and SOUNZ, aimed to increase the performance of orchestral music by New Zealand composers. During the time, 100 works by 52 composers were included in the project.

“The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is proud to have been part of this exciting project for 18 years, since its launch in 1998,” says NZSO Chief Executive Christopher Blake. “The promotion and performance of new works is an essential part of what we do as New Zealand’s national orchestra and we are committed to providing ongoing support of our New Zealand artists and composers through our investment in programmes such as the NZSO Todd Corporation Young Composers Awards and the NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer in Residence. We look forward to performing and recording more home-grown cutting-edge orchestral music as part of the NZ Composer Sessions in years to come.”

In 2010 RNZ Concert joined the partnership and NZSO-RNZ Concert-SOUNZ Recordings was established to create high quality recordings of NZ orchestral works suitable for promotion to a range of orchestras, and to broadcasters. Under the Recordings name, 47 works by 37 composers were recorded between 2010 to 2016.

David Houston, RNZ Concert Programmer, says, “This is an important opportunity for New Zealand composers to have their music heard on air and online, and RNZ Concert looks forward to sharing their creativity through these recording sessions.”

NZ Composer Sessions, the project’s latest incarnation, springs from the need to better reflect the purpose of the recordings: it offers NZ composers an opportunity to have their orchestral compositions workshopped and performed by a professional orchestra, to be recorded in a professional setting and promoted to presenters.

“SOUNZ is excited to be involved in this important project, which continues to develop since its establishment. We look forward to delivering another high quality instalment of orchestral compositions which provide a unique opportunity for NZ composers to have their works performed, broadcast and promoted to other presenters and broadcasters,” said SOUNZ Executive Director Diana Marsh.

You can listen to past recordings on SOUNZ’s and RNZ Concert’s websites:
http://sounz.org.nz/distinctions/show/37
http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/sounz-recordings

NZ Composer Sessions 2017 - applications are now open, closing on 4 July.
in partnership with NZSO, RNZ Concert and SOUNZ

SOUNZ is calling for orchestral scores from SOUNZ composers (max two/composer). The adjudication panel, administered by SOUNZ, consists of representatives from NZSO, RNZ Concert and CANZ, who each bring the perspective of their organisations. The panel are asked to recommend a selection of works that reflects the diversity of musical styles/voices in New Zealand composition, with a collective duration of up to 60 minutes. The 2017 recordings will take place over four days in February at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

For more information go to http://sounz.org.nz/events/show/3131

ENDS

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