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volume 32 number 02 | june 2014

Written & Compiled by Catherine Gibson

Canadian virtuoso Nikki Chooi, 2013 winner of the prestigious Michael Hill International Violin Competition will be performing throughout the country in June accompanied by New Zealand musicians Stephen De Pledge on piano and cellist Ashley Brown. In addition to his CMNZ tour, Nikki is performing a concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, recording under the Atoll label and will be presented in Australia’s Musica Viva Coffee Concerts series.

Nikki Chooi was born in 1989 in Victoria, British Columbia to parents of Chinese descent. He tells the story of his heritage: ‘my father is from Malaysia, my mother from Indonesia. They came and met in Victoria, BC while attending the University of Victoria and decided to live in Canada after their studies. The name “Chooi” is the Malaysian spelling of a Chinese surname. It is more commonly spelled as Xu or Hsu. My father speaks Cantonese, Malay, and English while my mother speaks Mandarin, Indonesian-Malay, and English – growing up, we mixed all the languages together and it became a soup of a language.’

Nikki began violin studies at the age of four at the Victoria Conservatory, Canada and at age fourteen, was accepted into the

Academy Program for Gifted Musicians at the Mount Royal University in Calgary. In 2012, he gained his Bachelors of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music and was awarded the Milka Violin Artist Prize upon graduation. Nikki has recently completed his graduate studies at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Ida Kavafian and Donald Weilerstein.

Nikki has many accolades to his name: a winner of the 2013 Astral Artists’ Auditions, Laureate of the 2012 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition and First Prize Winner of the 2009 Irving M. Klein International String Competition in San Francisco. He has appeared as soloist with many orchestras around the world and performed with members of the Guarneri String Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet and Vermeer String Quartet amongst others.

Central to Nikki’s CMNZ programmes are the Beethoven Sonata No 3, Prokofiev Sonata No 1, and Ravel Sonata in G, alongside Smetana’s Piano Trio and Jack Body’s ‘Caravan for solo violin’. Fireworks and virtuosity will come to the fore with Ravel’s gypsy Tzigane, Ysaÿe’s Sonata No 2 and the flamboyant De Falla Suite Espagnole.

Nikki currently performs on the 1700 “Taft” Stradivari – on generous loan from the Canada Council for the Arts.

“Nikki Chooi enthralled in what would be a winning Sibelius, with blistering passion erupting from its ethereal opening pages”

The New Zealand Herald

The Winner’s Tour

NIKKI CHOOI

June is a time of new beginnings and nurturing emerging talent.

The 2014 NZCT Chamber Music Contest is in its 49th year and several thousand young musicians from Whangarei to Invercargill will take part in this year’s iconic event. Up to 100 groups will receive special coaching care of our partnership with ABRSM. This year we are trialling a new event to give all the winners of the district contests in the Central Region a non-competitive opportunity to showcase their talents in Wanganui on 21 June. If successful, we plan to introduce this as new Regional Finals in all three regions in the Contest’s Jubilee year, 2015.

The winner of the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition Canadian virtuoso Nikki Chooi will perform throughout the country with Stephen De Pledge and Ashley Brown joins them to present the impassioned Smetana piano trio in four centres. There’s something very inspiring about experiencing artists such as Nikki on debut, don’t miss it!

We will present Te Ao Mārama (The World of Light) at the Museum of Wellington City and Sea on 19 June in celebration of Matariki. This project has come about through our work with Toi Māori Aotearoa and the Museum. Talented local chamber musicians, taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments), classical instruments and New Zealand music combine to explore the Māori creation story of our land’s movement from darkness into light.

In July we welcome the award-winning Doric String Quartet (UK) back for their second visit to New Zealand. They finish off their tour by adjudicating the National Finals of the Contest in Christchurch on 1-2 August. Don’t forget that these events are included as part of your 2014 Kaleidoscopes season passes.

There’s plenty of chamber music happening around the country to keep you warm through these next few months.

In case you haven’t caught up with this news, Michael Houstoun will present a solo recital as part of the Edinburgh International Arts Festival in August. Other kiwi musicians and composers featured in Edinburgh festivals this year include Gareth Farr, jazzers The Troubles and our Contest Alumni including Lazarus String Quartet, Trinity Trio, Somi Kim, Natalie Lin and Edward King.

It is exciting to witness our musicians excelling on stages around the world.

Euan Murdoch Chief Executive

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From the Chief Executive

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On tour Doric String Quartet‘The Doric Quartet manages to combine the necessary linear and rhythmic precision needed to do full justice to Korngold’s sophisticated scoring with a warmth of tone and intensity of expression that makes the players highly persuasive advocates.’

Classic FM Magazine

The award-winning Doric String Quartet (UK) return to New Zealand in July, this time with their new viola player Hélène Clément. A prizewinner at the Tokyo International Viola Competition in 2012, Hélène has also appeared frequently as guest principal violist of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig and been recognised as one of the most gifted and accomplished violists of her generation.

The Doric String Quartet perform the classics, Haydn, Schumann and the intense Schubert’s String Quartet in G, aptly described by one scholar as ‘an opera without words’. Plus ‘Eclipse’, a stunning quartet from Australian composer Brett Dean and Korngold’s String Quartet No 2. Korngold (1897 -1957) was an American composer of Austro-Hungarian birth and considered one of the founders of film music. The 1938 Academy Award for his score to The Adventures of Robin Hood marked the first time an Oscar was awarded to the composer rather than the head of the studio music department.

Immediately following their tour, the The Doric String Quartet will adjudicate the National Finals of the Contest in Christchurch on 1-2 August.

An important component of an international music competition is often the performance of a newly commissioned work to test the interpretive skills of the competitors in playing something that has no performance history. The MHIVC commission is an unparalled opportunity for a NZ composer to hear his/her work performed 18 times in the competition and then again the following year as part of the ‘Winner’s Tour’, in the hands of incredible artists, and to know that their work is exported to every corner of the globe. In addition to being overall winner of the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, we would like to congratulate Nikki for being the winner of the ‘Best Performance of New Zealand Commissioned Work, Caravan for solo violin by Jack Body’.

Q&A with Nikki Chooi on preparing ‘Caravan for solo violin’ by Jack Body

What are your secrets for learning a new work for an international competition? ‘I would advise to do as much research of the composer, his/her music, the style, etc. Since these works have never been played or recorded before, the challenge is to make a convincing interpretation of the new piece. I would advise to record yourself playing it over the course of your progress and listen to yourself objectively.’

Is this preparation any different to what you might do for a concert performance? ‘No, I would prepare the same way whether it be a competition or a concert performance.’

Did you know of Jack Body’s compositions prior to learning this work? ‘I had not heard of other works by Jack before coming across this piece. I must say it was fascinating to learn about him and discover his musical language!’

Jack’s inspiration was Persian vocal music that he heard while traversing Iran by bus in 1971. He then found a recording that became the basis of the composition. So we have a NZ composer writing something based upon Perisan traditions, how did this influence your approach?‘The first person I asked about this piece was a teacher of mine at Juilliard, Behzhad Ranjbaran. He is a very well respected Persian-American composer and I had taken a number of his classes over the years. He was very generous with his time and sharing his knowledge of traditional Persian music. I played it for him over the course of my journey with ‘Caravan’. I remember my last session with him before the end of the school semester – his advice to me was to take everything I’ve learnt, all the research I’ve done, and now, play it as though it’s my own piece. I also spent a lot of time on YouTube, watching various videos of Persian violinists, singers, and other instrumentalists to get myself a bit more familiar with the musical language.’

Was there any particular preparation required that was specific to the challenges you found in ‘Caravan’? ‘The most challenging aspect of ‘Caravan’ was trying to make it sound improvisatory and flowing – Persian music is not written down, but is transferred orally. But in the case of ‘Caravan’, all the embellishments and inflections were written out in precise fashion. I had to learn all the notes, the rhythms, then take it all away and learn to make everything sound like I am thinking and playing the figures for the first time.’

What was it like performing a New Zealand work on New Zealand soil? ‘During the competition, I knew Jack Body was present in the audience. It is always exciting to perform a work with the composer present and I wonder how he must have felt to have heard his work played 18 different ways. Performing it in New Zealand added to the thrill of the whole experience.’

When Nikki is not playing the violin he enjoys cooking, casually listening to U2, Beatles, Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and any Disney hit songs! He finds inspiration in recordings of Glenn Gould’s Bach Goldberg Variations, Mitsuko Uchida’s Mozart Piano Concertos, Leon Fleisher’s Beethoven Piano Concertos, any Guarneri Quartet recordings and any Heifetz recordings. Nikki is also an avid sports fan! Especially Vancouver Canucks Hockey and he also follows tennis and basketball. In contrast, he has recently been listening to Yale Online Classes in Philosophy on his iPhone and reading Swafford’s biography on Brahms. Combining his tremendous talent and virtuosity on the violin with such a fascinating mix of interests, it is hardly surprising that Nikki is such an extraordinary musician.

Presented in association with Michael Hill International Violin Competition and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Michael Hill International Violin Competition

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We have over 500 entries from all around the country plus 38 young composers submitting works for the Original Composition Award. Throughout May around 100 groups are lined up to receive coaching sponsored by the ABRSM. After its success last year, Mark Walton will again be undertaking skype coaching sessions to reach the more remote areas of New Zealand. The District Contest begins after Queen’s Birthday Weekend, with the District Adjudicators’ meeting in Wellington on 16 June to select the 12 semifinalists to participate in the National Finals in Christchurch, 1-2 August.

Central Region ShowcaseThis year we are trialling a new event, giving the top two groups from the District Contests in the Central Region of the North Island a non-competitive opportunity to showcase their talents. The Central Region Showcase will be held in Wanganui and is part of the lead up to our Jubilee celebrations in 2015. If successful, next year we will hold three Regional Finals across the country as part of the selection process for the National Finals.

At the Showcase this year, the groups will each perform as part of a public concert and we have two special guests (and previous Contest winners) joining us for the day to give feedback and to share their own recent experiences of international competitions and overseas study. Violinist, Natalie Lin 2013 Michael Hill International Violin

Competition 6th place prize winner and the Audience Choice Award is currently completing Doctoral studies at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. She will be joined by violist, Bryony Gibson-Cornish who is studying towards her Master of Music at The Juilliard School in New York, as a Fulbright Scholar.

We couldn’t run this special one-off event without the able assistance of Ingrid Culliford, who wears many hats for CMNZ! She is not only a fine flautist (see her involvement in Te Ao Mārama) but also a regular Contest Adjudicator, District Contest Organiser and Chamber Music Wanganui’s President. There is a wonderful synergy about this Showcase, with Natalie and Bryony acting as mentors for the young school musicians and in turn Ingrid, with her vast experience as a Contest Adjudicator, mentoring both Natalie and Bryony in their roles to providing feedback.

We asked all three about the up-coming showcase:

Ingrid: ‘A very exciting “first” in the Chamber Music Contest – a Regional Showcase.

Although this event is a trial this year, it has created a buzz – the prospect of being part of the best of the five Central North Island Districts is definitely an incentive for some of the participating groups. As an interim step between the District Contest and the seemingly unattainable heights of the National Finals, I believe that the addition of this regional showcase will both heighten the

2014 NZCT Chamber Music Contest Supporting Tomorrow’s Musicians Today

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public awareness of our talented young musicians across the wider region and celebrate their achievement in reaching this level. The added value for the selected ensembles is the opportunity to be heard again alongside the best from other district contests, playing to a wider audience and receiving feedback on their performance from exceptional young musicians who have stepped out into the international arena.

It will be a privilege to share some of my years of adjudicating experience with Natalie and Bryony who will be an integral part of the event, sharing their stories and their playing with the participants before taking on the role of giving feedback to the performers. I look forward to hearing their comments, which I imagine will be fresh and enthusiastic and drawn from their recent experiences in music competitions, masterclasses and further studies.’

Natalie: ‘I think the Contest is such a fantastic thing for young New Zealand musicians to get involved in, and a unique opportunity to learn invaluable chamber music skills and advanced musicianship at their age. I’m speaking from experience here, as I found that what I learned through my many years playing in the contest really equipped me for my next steps in music, venturing out into the world. I’m more than thrilled to be a part of the showcase, and I hope I can encourage these students to keep going with their aspirations!’

Bryony: ‘I look forward to the opportunity to meet and work with this year’s contestants. Chamber music is my favourite musical genre, so it’s a treat to be able to be reminded of my own experiences in the Contest and to be able to pass on the torch. I have vivid memories of being a part of the Contest, I still remember this thought creeping into the back of my mind as we played on the Auckland Town Hall stage, “Maybe I could pursue a career in viola…this is really fun!” I hope that we will be able to inspire similar thoughts at the Regional Showcase and it is an honour to be part of this “first!” ’

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Contest dates for 2014 Make a note in your diary, we would love to see you there!

District Contests

3 June Whangarei More info...4 June Nelson More info...4 June New Plymouth More info...5 June Palmerston North More info...5-8 June Auckland More info...6 June Invercargill More info...6 June Wanganui More info...8 June Wellington More info...9-11 June Christchurch More info...10 June Tauranga More info...11 June Hamilton More info...12 June Timaru More info...13 June Gisborne More info...13-14 June Hawkes Bay More info...14-15 June Dunedin More info...

Regional Showcase for the Central Region of New Zealand

21 June Wanganui More info...

(Non-competitive) For the winning ensemble, plus one other ensemble chosen from each District Contest held in Wellington, Palmerston North, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Hawkes Bay.

National Finals – Christchurch

1 August Semi-finals More info...2 August Final More info...

Charles Luney Auditorium, St Margaret’s College, Merivale.

Join the Alumni List 2015 is the NZCT Chamber Music Contest Golden Jubilee!www.chambermusic.co.nz/contest-alumni

Edinburgh International Festival features Michael Houstoun including works by Vaughan Williams and Douglas Lilburn. As part of a unique project with the Edinburgh International Festival and the Scottish Ensemble, emerging artists and Contest Alumni Eddy King and Natalie Lin will perform with the Commonwealth Strings featuring a new work by Gareth Farr.

The 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe features CMNZ Chamber Music Contest and Pettman/ROSL ARTS Alumni past and present, including the Trinity Trio, Lazarus String Quartet, Somi Kim (Estrella) and Edward King (Leonari Trio).

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival New Zealand’s premiere contemporary jazz group, The Troubles, (CMNZ Encompass Regional Artists 2014) play a series of gigs, including being part of the Commonwealth Jazz Orchestra.

CMNZ Life Member, Miss Joan Kerr QSO from Wellington recently passed away. Joan was instrumental in creating and realising the Chamber Music Contest in 1965 working alongside Arthur Hilton and Fred Turnovsky. Joan later went on to Chair the QE11 Arts Council.

Congratulations to Contest AlumniSophia Lee, violist in Geist String Quartet (Contest winners in 2011, 2012) has been accepted for undergraduate study with a scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Around CMNZ… Congratulations to our Concert Manager in Nelson, Clare Monti who gave birth to a beautiful baby boy in April.

Peter Diessl and Helen Philpott have both come to the end of their 9-year stints as CMNZ trustees and were awarded life membership on their retirement. Deputy Chair Michelle van Gaalen stepped down due to increasing work pressures and has been replaced by ex-CEO of the NZSO Peter Walls. Auckland lawyer Sarah Sinclair has joined the CMNZ board of trustees. Both Peter Diessl and Helen Philpott have been invited to join the CMNZ Foundation.

…and in the National OfficeAnna Edgington, our Office Administrator and ‘Singer Extraordinaire’ has left us to head to the UK to tour and record with old friends and collaborators, ‘Space F!ght’ – an innovative group that combine sonified data, electronics, jazz, tuned percussion and voice. Anna will also perform her solo project ‘Edie’ around UK.

9th Annual Pettman/ROSL Arts International Scholarship for a New Zealand Chamber EnsembleRun by the Royal Overseas League, this important chamber music competition for emerging New Zealand artists provides a winning prize package worth NZ$60,000 and consists of return flights New Zealand to London, accommodation & hospitality, all combined with four - five weeks of concerts and coaching in the UK, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Application Deadline: 31 July 2014 Auditions: University of Waikato 14-16 November, 2014

Download the application form from the ROSL ARTS website: www.rosl.org.uk

Composer Competition for Gallipoli CentenaryAs part of the 2015 centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli landings, Australia’s ABC Classic FM and Radio New Zealand Concert are inviting Australian and New Zealand composers to submit original compositions in their joint competition Gallipoli Songs. Prize money of $5,000 per composition will be awarded to six Gallipoli Songs that best communicate the experiences of the original Anzacs and their loved ones. The

winning compositions will be professionally performed, recorded and broadcast on Anzac Day 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

For more information on how to enter visit www.abc.net.au/classic

The closing date for submissions is 20 October 2014

Have you checked our blog recently?We are continuing our guest blogging series “From where I sit”. Recently we asked New Zealand clarinettist, composer and highly respected teacher, Mark Walton to share his early memories of the clarinet quintets by Mozart and Brahms. Mark first performed these masterworks in our Chamber Music Contest as a school student; it’s a fine example of how often the Contest forms an important early pathway for our musicians.

Read more here: http://chambermusicnz.wordpress.com/

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2014 ENCOMPASS SERIESThe Troubles continue on the road with performances in Lower Hutt, Wanaka and Rangiora in June and Wanganui and Motueka in July.

La Belle Alliance, Dunedin musicians, violinist Tessa Petersen and pianist John Van Buskirk will be joined by soprano Rebecca Ryan performing works by NZ composers Robbie Ellis and Anthony Ritchie and brackets of songs by Schubert and Strauss. Lining up with their tour schedule, Tessa will also be adjudicating the District Contests in Invercargill and Gisborne.

It seems to have been the year for it! Following injury to one of the string players in Anna McGregor’s Antithesis Quintet, she will now be touring her programme ‘Antithesis’ with the Dalecarlia Quintet from the Swedish orchestra DalaSinfoniettan, Falun, where she is currently performing. They have also been invited by Anthony Ritchie to record an album of New Zealand music with Atoll Records.

On TOuR

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Core FunderCreative New Zealand

Supporters ABRSM • ASB Community Trust • Asia New Zealand Foundation

Base Two • Canterbury Community Trust • Carolyn & Peter Diessl Community Post • Community Trust of Southland

Deane Endowment Trust • Dragon Community Trust Dunedin City Council • Eastern & Central Community Trust

Endeavour Community Foundation Farina Thompson Charitable Trust • IHC Foundation

Infinity Foundation • Invercargill Licensing Trust Johnston Lawrence • KBB Music • KPMG • Mainland Foundation

Marie Vandewart Trust • McDermott Miller Strategies New Zealand Community Trust • Otago Community Trust

Pelorus Trust • Phantom Billstickers • Positively Wellington Venues Pub Charity • Royal Over-Seas League • SOUNZ • Sparks • THE EDGE

The Lion Foundation • The Southern Trust • The Stout Trust Trevkel Music Trust • Trust Aoraki • TSB Community Trust

Turnovsky Endowment Trust • Wallace Arts Trust Victoria University of Wellington • Wellington City Council

Accommodation Suppliers Crowne Plaza Auckland

Nice Hotel, New Plymouth • County Hotel Napier InterContinental Wellington

Coffee Supplier: Karajoz Coffee CompanyChocolatier: de Spa Chocolatier

Floral supplier: Global Living

CHAMBER MuSIC NEW ZEALANDLevel 4, 75 Ghuznee Street, P.O. Box 6238, Wellington

Tel (04) 384 6133 Fax (04) 384 3773

Level 3, 57 – 61 High St, PO Box 1425, AucklandTel (09) 358 3589

Email info@chambermusic.co.nzWebsite www.chambermusic.co.nz

BOARDRoger King (Chair), Paul Baines, Gretchen La Roche,

Sarah Sinclair, Peter Walls, Lloyd Williams,

BRANCHESAuckland: Chair, Victoria Silwood;

Concert Manager, Ros Giffney

Hamilton: Chair, Murray Hunt; Concert Manager, Gaye Duffill

New Plymouth: Chair, Joan Gaines; Concert Manager, Susan Case

Hawkes Bay: Chair, June Clifford; Concert Manager, Liffy Roberts

Manawatu: Chair, Graham Parsons; Concert Manager, Virginia Warbrick

Wellington: Concert Manager, Jessica Lightfoot

Nelson: Chair, Henrietta Hannah; Concert Manager, Clare Monti

Christchurch: Chair, Colin McLachlan; Concert Manager, Jody Keehan

Dunedin: Chair, Terence Dennis; Concert Manager, Richard Dingwall

Southland: Chair, Shona Thomson; Concert Manager, Jennifer Sinclair

For all Concert Managers phone 0800 CONCERT (266 2378)

Regional Societies located in: Blenheim, Cromwell, Gisborne, Gore, Hutt Valley,

Kaitaia, Motueka, Rotorua, Taihape, Tauranga, Te Awamutu, Upper Hutt, Waikanae, Waimakariri,

Waipukurau, Wanaka, Wanganui, Warkworth, Wellington, Whakatane and Whangarei.

© Chamber Music New Zealand 2014 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of Chamber Music New Zealand.

The Winner’s Tour: Nikki Chooi More info...6 June, 7.30pm Rotorua Concert Chamber Buy tickets

8 June, 5pm Hamilton Gallagher Academy Buy tickets

9 June, 7.30pm New Plymouth Theatre Royal Buy tickets

11 June, 7.30pm Palmerston North The Speirs Centre Buy tickets

12 June, 8pm Napier MTG Century Theatre Buy tickets

13 June, 7.30pm Christchurch Charles Luney Auditorium Buy tickets

15 June, 5pm Nelson Old St John’s Church Buy tickets

16 June, 8pm Auckland Auckland Town Hall Buy tickets

20 June, 7.30pm Wellington Michael Fowler Centre Buy tickets

22 June, 2.30pm Waikanae Memorial Hall Buy tickets

23 June, 6pm Blenheim St Andrew’s Church Buy tickets

24 June, 7.30pm Invercargill Civic Theatre Buy tickets

28 June, 7.30pm Dunedin Glenroy Auditorium Buy tickets

29 June, 4pm Queenstown Memorial Centre Buy tickets

Doric String Quartet More info...17 July, 7.30pm Dunedin Glenroy Auditorium Buy tickets

18 July, 7.30pm Invercargill Civic Theatre Buy tickets

20 July, 5pm Auckland Auckland Town Hall Buy tickets

22 July, 7.30pm Hamilton Gallagher Academy Buy tickets

23 July, 8pm Napier MTG Century Theatre Buy tickets

25 July, 7.30pm Wellington Michael Fowler Centre Buy tickets

27 July, 5pm New Plymouth Theatre Royal Buy tickets

28 July, 7.30pm Palmerston North The Speirs Centre Buy tickets

29 July, 7.30pm Nelson Old St John’s Church Buy tickets

31 July, 7.30pm Christchurch Charles Luney Auditorium Buy tickets

The Troubles More info...4 June, 7.30pm Lower Hutt Little Theatre, Civic Centre

6 June, 7.30pm Wanaka Lake Wanaka Centre

8 June, 7.30pm Rangiora Chamber Gallery

4 July, 7.30pm Wanganui Prince Edward Auditorium

6 July, 7.30pm Motueka Chanel Arts Centre

La Belle Alliance More info...8 June, 3pm Gore James Cumming Wing

15 June, 2.30pm Whangarei Old Library Building Arts Centre

Dalecarlia Clarinet Quintet More info...3 July, 7.30pm Lower Hutt Little Theatre, Civic Centre

6 July, 2.30pm Waikanae Memorial Hall

9 July, 7.30pm Rangiora Chamber Gallery

11 July, 7.30pm Cromwell Golden Gate Lodge

13 July, 3pm Wellington St Andrew’s, The Terrace

18 July, 7.30pm Warkworth The Belfry

20 July, 3pm Tauranga Tauranga Park Auditorium

23 July, 7.30pm Whakatane St George & St John

CMNZ produces a printed newsletter posted free to subscribers, and made available for free download. Send us your email address and we will alert you when the latest version of Theme is available online.

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Māori Arts Internship Programme 2014 a partnership with Toi Māori Aotearoa

Introducing Event Coordinator Intern, Keriata Royal‘Kia ora koutou katoa. At Chamber Music New Zealand I am helping coordinate different events that have a specific focus on kaupapa Māori approaches to making music and helping move this kaupapa forward within the chamber music space. I have a Bachelor of Music with a major in Instrumental/Vocal Composition, and I am currently doing my Honours in Music Studies, with a potential research focus on Mātauranga Māori approaches to music composition and how this fits in to a contemporary Aotearoa music making space.’

Tell us a bit about the project you are working on…It is a collaboration between CMNZ and the Museum of Wellington City and Sea to create an event in celebration of Matariki. It’s a great opportunity to bring Māori music making practices into the realm of chamber music. The driver of the event is the Māori creation story and the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.’

Have there been any surprises?‘There have been many new lessons that I have learnt while I have been here at CMNZ. These new lessons bring about new things to organise or coordinate that I haven’t had previous experience with and hence there is a level of surprise. One of the biggest surprises was learning of the many elements that go into marketing an event, from photo shoots, to print and design, to poster distribution. These elements have all been new to me.’

What are you enjoying most about the internship?‘I have really enjoyed being able to create musical ideas, and then watch these things come into fruition. It is very satisfying.’

Te Ao MāramaThe World of Light

“‘Tokona, wehea rāua, kia tau kē te wahine kia tau kē te tāne, kia tupu ai tātou ki te Ao.’ Kātahi ka tokona te rangi. E tū iho ana a Rangi; e takoto nei a Papa.”This event will bring together a mixture of taonga pūoro and classical chamber music ensembles who will perform music by New Zealand composers. The story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku is a well-known story of movement from darkness into light that many people can relate to and enjoy. Four different spaces within the Museum will house different musical ensembles each one portraying a different element of the story that the audience will follow as they move through the museum.

From one of the performers, flautist Ingrid Culliford: ‘I am very much looking forward to taking part in this celebration of Matariki 2014, and to revisiting Dame Gillian Whitehead’s evocative work “Hine-Raukatuari”. Being part of a larger ‘story-telling’ event perhaps brings a different slant to a piece which is in itself a journey... from the restlessness of the opening piccolo cadenza to improvised and lyrical duet with the putorino, one of the many voices of the taonga pūoru used throughout the work, and a beautiful lilting, dancing section before the piece unwinds into a spacious and semi-improvised ending. Interacting with and responding to the traditional Maori instruments is one of my strongest memories of previous performances of this work, and I am excited by the opportunity to join with Alistair Fraser (taonga pūoru) in creating this very special sound world.’

Event Details: Date: Thursday 19 JuneTime: First session 5.30pm second session 7.30pm Location: Museum of Wellington City and Sea, 3 Jervois QuayEntry: Koha/donation