1 May 2019
Nominations for the 2019 Music Teacher of the Year open this NZ Music Month
Nominations are now open for the 2019 Music Teacher of the Year Tui, which will be presented to an outstanding Kiwi
music teacher at the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards in November.
From today, people across New Zealand can put forward their local music teacher for the award – someone who provides
children with the foundations of a career in music and the everyday skills that come with learning to read, write and
play music.
In conjunction with the NZ Music Commission, Recorded Music New Zealand introduced the award in 2018 to highlight the
exceptional music teachers across Aotearoa and the impact they have on our children every day.
The inaugural winner was Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust founder Elizabeth Sneyd, which provides free music education
and programmes in the East Porirua community.
Recorded Music New Zealand CEO Damian Vaughan said learning to play music as a child is often a key element of
acceptance speeches by professional musicians at awards shows – both internationally and here in Aotearoa.
“The impact their teachers have on their development as musicians, as artists and as creatives is obvious. So it’s great
to be able to give our music teachers the kudos they deserve.
“Learning to play an instrument, to read music, and to begin honing creative thinking skills is an important part of
childhood development.”
Schools and communities across the country can nominate any music teacher or music mentor during NZ Music Month this May
on the Official NZ Music Awards website.
Since 2001, the NZ Music Commission has recognised the valued efforts of music teachers and supported their in-classroom
work through the Musicians Mentoring in Schools programme, a Ministry of Education funded initiative that connects young
emerging talent with some of Aotearoa’s top musicians to learn from the best.
More than 200 artists have shared their expertise in songwriting, instrumental and vocal technique, recording
technology, and music industry insight – including Jon Toogood, Maisey Rika, Chris Mac of Six60 and Julia Deans.
Recorded Music NZ will announce the winner of the Music Teacher of the Year Award at the Artisan Awards in early
November and also acknowledge the winning teacher at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards ceremony in November at Spark
Arena, Auckland.
Schools, communities or individuals looking to nominate their music teacher or music mentor can do so here: https://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/musicteacher/
Previous Music Teacher of the Year winners
–2018: Elizabeth Sneyd, Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust
–
About Recorded Music New Zealand
Recorded Music NZ is a non-profit industry representation and licensing organisation for recording artists and their
labels. It divides its services into three main areas. The Member Services team delivers projects including the Vodafone
NZ Music Awards, the weekly Official NZ Top40 Charts and the Music Grants programme. Recorded Music NZ’s licensing
division administers broadcast and public performance licensing either directly or through its joint initiative with
APRA called OneMusic. The Pro-Music team is dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of artists and labels
across the New Zealand recording industry.
About the Vodafone NZ Music Awards
The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards is owned and hosted by Recorded Music NZ and is now in its 54th year. More than 30
music awards are presented each year and the main ceremony is Broadcast live on TV3 in November.
About the NZ Music Commission
The New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa is a government funded organisation that has been set up to
promote music from New Zealand and support the growth of New Zealand music businesses – both culturally and
economically, at home and abroad. The hub of NZ Music Month, the Music Commission also deliver contemporary music
programmes in schools, including the Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme; provides music upskilling tools and
resources; and runs the international market development & trade show programme Outward Sound.
Issued for Recorded Music NZ by Pead PR
ends