New Zealand Secures World Contemporary Music Festival
• Auckland and Christchurch to host hundreds of delegates, composers, performers, academics and leaders in the new music
world in 2020.
• The International Society for Contemporary New Music World Music Days will attract delegates from more than 50
countries.
• The ISCM is the most highly regarded organisation of its type; after establishing itself in 1922, it has tirelessly
promoted new music to all corners of the globe.
Auckland and Christchurch will come alive with the sound of music in 2020 after winning the bid to host the
International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days.
The ISCM is an international network of members from 50 countries, devoted to the promotion and presentation of
contemporary music, with the World New Music Days being its annual festival.
Auckland will host a two-day conference as part of the festival, and the ISCM General Assembly meetings, with
Christchurch hosting a more informal half-day symposium.
Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) – a division of Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) – with support from Tourism New Zealand, worked with the Composers Association of New
Zealand (CANZ) to secure the winning bid.
Head of ACB Anna Hayward says this is the second major musical-related business event festival the ACB has helped secure
for Auckland in 2020.
“Last year, we announced winning the 12th triennial World Symposium on Choral Music which will be held over eight days
in July and August, and we are thrilled to have now added the World New Music Days to the same year,” she says.
“This latest music win for Auckland, comes hot on the heels of Auckland being named a UNESCO ‘City of Music’, which will
help open the door even further for international cooperation and knowledge exchange in this creative sector.”
University of Canterbury’s Head of Music, Associate Professor Glenda Keam, says: “It was great to see the level of
excitement amongst our ISCM colleagues in response to the bid presentation to host the 2020 ISCM World New Music Days.
“We look forward with enthusiasm to presenting the variety of music of Aotearoa alongside rich and diverse new music
from this international community, to an international and local audience.”
Tourism New Zealand’s International Business Events and Premium Manager, Lisa Gardiner says: “Conferences like this
provide significant economic value to the New Zealand and are an opportunity to showcase our country on the
international stage as a business event destination.
“In addition to the economic benefits this conference will deliver it also brings value through knowledge and culture
sharing.”
ENDS