The Department of Music Te Tari Püoro

NEWSLETTER Semester One June 2010

NEW WORLD-CLASS MUSIC CONSOLE to this recording studio. The first stage will be to link Marama Hall and Allen Hall to the Albany Street In May the Department was proud to show its building by fibre optic cable and it is hoped this can new Solid State Logic console to invited guests at be completed in 2010. a function to celebrate the commissioning of this valuable addition to the Albany Street Recording The desk is being used by staff and postgraduate Studio. This new console significantly increases the students for research in performance projects, for capability of the studio for recordings of albums and recording live performances, and for the teaching for many types of live performances. of undergraduate students. It is expected that the Its capability to be linked to highspeed broadband desk will also be in demand by students studying for networks makes it possible for musicians all over the new Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Studio the world to be linked in collaborations and directly Production.

NZMiC – LAUNCH

Coinciding with the SSL Desk launch, the New Zealand Music Industry Centre (NZMiC) in collaboration with local music company DunedinMusic.Com Ltd was launched. NZMiC’s aim is to act as a mechanism through which the Department of Music can engage with the music industry, to foster research outputs and facilitate the recording of albums. Through this initiative, the studio will be made available to bands or music groups who wish to record. There will be collaborations with performers and recording artists and the development of a research-based context for Apart from priorities to find a home, starting the University industry projects and partnerships. new cello class of talented students, getting used In May the Albany Street Studio was opened to to policies, confirmation objectives, paper profiles, a public performance for live recording of “New meetings, new faces and names I had to start Directions in Jazz”, when Portugese marimba preparing for several concert performances. In player, Pedro Carneiro successfully combined April, soon after my husband arrived, I went back with local jazz group Subject2Change to explore to SA to perform the monumental Schumann Cello a world of sound and improvisation. Concerto with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra with Martin Panteleev as conductor. An interview STAFF published on the web http://www.classicsa.co.za/ site/features/view/2187 “Heleen Du Plessis and Heleen Du Plessis – The first six months life in New Zealand” and an article in the Cape In response to our request Heleen gives an account Town newspaper “Die Burger” appeared, titled: Du of her impressions of leaving South Africa and her Plessis’ cello tells stories”. first six months in Dunedin: Arriving back in Dunedin we bought a house as soon as I landed, after viewing it once! Happy In January this year I embarked on more of a to have that sorted and May proved to be no journey than just a flight to New Zealand with less exciting, with a performance of the Double my two boys. Not knowing more about the Concerto for violin and cello by Anthony Ritchie, country, town or University than what one could with Tessa Petersen and the Hawke’s Bay Symphony figure out on a Google-search, I felt a mixture of Orchestra conducted by Michael Joel, as well as excitement, sadness and panic as I headed away a chamber music concert with John Van Buskirk, from home, family, friends, students and colleagues, Alexa Still, Tessa Petersen and Michael Joel. These to start as Executant Lecturer of cello at the Music concerts were very well received and combined as Department of the University of Otago. well as two successful cello workshops organized We had a warm reception from new colleagues by Stanza, with each attended by over 20 cellists. and friends, providing dinners, helping us find Meanwhile my students and I formed a cello our way around Dunedin, looking for schools, ensemble and performed at a lunch hour concert at temporary accommodation, a car and all the rest First Church and at a Graduation Ceremony in the that goes with starting a new life somewhere from Dunedin Town Hall. June quickly filled with student scratch. Amidst it all I started off by coaching at exams and an outreach trip by the TriOtago to the Summer School for Chamber Music presented Auckland with workshops by Prof. Terence Dennis, by Tessa Petersen, John Van Buskirk, Tom McGrath Tessa Petersen and myself. A bumpy flight back to and Alison Bowcott. Soon after, a concert with Dunedin and our family at last moved from a one Cellists of Otago followed, introducing me to the bedroom apartment into our own home…one local cello community. with a magnificent view! A lecture about the cello DAAD Germany/NZ Conference, and he chose to for the University of the Third Age as part of the perform music from his CD of Wagner and Liszt course “Inside the Orchestra: Southern Sinfonia” piano works. concluded most of June. Terence is honoured to be invited once more on Forthcoming are two concerts in South Africa in to the 2010 teaching staff of the Solti-Te Kanawa July, my inauguration recital in September and a Accademia di Bel Canto in Italy, one of the most recital at the Otago Festival of the Arts in October prestigious international summer academies, along with Terence Dennis. with such international figures as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Richard Bonynge, and members of the During these six months, in spite of warnings that London Royal Academy of Music and New York the weather is the worst thing about Dunedin, it Juilliard School staff. has rained less here than in Pretoria and is actually warmer than most places we have previously lived. Terence Dennis partners Dame Kiri te Kanawa for Having much to explore of the country and learn her recital in the Dunedin Town Hall, in the 2010 about the culture, we have found people, staff, Otago Festival of the Arts, where he also presents colleagues and new friends are very supportive, programmes with new Otago cello appointee friendly and warm and we are impressed by Heleen Du Plessis, and a programme of light the efficiency, friendliness and professionalism entertainment with NZ icon Max Cryer. of services and institutions. We supported the All Blacks team in their last game at Carisbrook In the presence of the Ambassador of Poland and Stadium and look forward to many new endeavors the Polish Consul, in collaboration with the Polish while making a new home in a beautiful country. Heritage Trust of Otago, he presented a lecture recital in Marama Hall on The Young Chopin to celebrate the Chopin Bicentenary Year. With SATURDAY, September 11, 7.30pm international NZ Wagner tenor Simon O’Neill, also a graduate of Otago, Terence Dennis presented Inaugural Recital: Wagner programmes for the NZ Wagner Society, Heleen Du Plessis, cello Wellington branch, and the Auckland Opera Studio. with Terence Dennis, piano Their live performance of Schumann’s song-cycle “Dichterliebe”, op.48 from the Auckland Concert Debussy: Sonata for Cello & Piano (1917) Chamber last year is the featured podcast of Radio Shostakovich: Sonata for Cello & Piano in NZ Concert to celebrate the 2010 Schumann D minor, op.40 Bicentenary Year. Rachmaninov: Sonata for Cello and Piano Terence Dennis looks forward to the new University in G minor, op.19 Piano Trio formation, as TriOtago, later in the year.

Marama Hall at 7.30pm Peter Adams Admission: Adults $20/Student $5 Peter Adams is on study leave this year and this is why you probably haven’t seen him very often in the Department. He has been hiding away in a little rented studio composing music and has already completed a work for concert band entitled Terence Dennis “Taiaroa head” premiered in May at the Hutton Amongst a busy first part of the year, Terence Dennis theatre by the Otago Symphonic Winds, and some was guest performer at the 2010 Conference of soundscapes for the Caroline Plummer Fellow in the DAAD, the German Academic Scholarship Dance, Suzanne Cowan. Peter has also completed Exchange Programme, held at the University of a trio for two clarinets and bass clarinet called Auckland. At this conference were representatives “Albatross” and is working on music for solo cello of the New Zealand Government and Directors of and an orchestral piece. the DAAD programme in Bonn. Terence Dennis was a former DAAD recipient, and as such special In June, Peter conducted the Dunedin Youth guest performer at this event, the third international Orchestra in a concert that featured cello student Myles Chen playing the Elgar cello concerto. Also in June, Peter visited Brisbane to judge the and The Auckland Philharmonia, as well as the Queensland State Brass Band contest and is about premiere of a new trio for 3 clarinets, called Easter to depart for the UK for 6 weeks to go to concerts, Melancholy. Anthony has also had a burst on choral meet other university musicians and to sample Islay’s writing recently, completing new songs for Viva Voce fine malt whiskies!! in Auckland, Jubilate Singers in Christchurch, and the Southern Consort of Voices in Dunedin. His song Peter will be back on board for Summer School in ‘This sea we cross over’ is being performed several 2011. times by The NZ Youth Choir on its overseas tour in July, including the World Expo, in Shanghai. Tessa Petersen Tessa travelled to Hawkes Bay at the end of May On June 21 The Auckland Chamber Orchestra together with Heleen Du Plessis for a performance played a concert of Anthony’s music, including his with the Hawkes Bay Orchestra of the Double Flute Concerto (with Alexa Still), Octet, Sextet, and Concerto for Violin and Cello by Anthony Ritchie. orchestral suite called Underwater Music. Entitled ‘Portrait and Concerto’ the concert was conducted by Peter Scholes and recorded for radio. Shelley Brunt appeared on Japanese television in the buildup to the “Red and White Song Contest” the object of her research project. The Japanese way of celebrating their popular music on television, which climaxes each year with a lavish singing contest broadcast on the national television network, the NHK, began long before shows such as American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent captured the imaginations of While there they also gave a chamber music recital mass television audiences in the West. together with Alexa Still, Michael Joel and John Van Buskirk. Both performances were very well John Egenes was seen (and heard) performing at an received. Masterclasses with students and chamber American themed New Edinburgh Folk Club night. music groups were also held at the Havelock North Ian Chapman (as Dr Glam) entertained at a 2010 Intermediate School. Dunedin Fringe Festival event, The Glitter Show, in Allen Hall. Anthony Ritchie In May Anthony had a CD of his compositions Rob Burns featured in ‘Musical Chairs’ on Radio recorded by the NZSO under conductor and Otago New Zealand National in April. alumni Tecwyn Evans. The CD includes his new Symphony No.3, plus 3 other works written for the UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO orchestra over the last 14 years. The recording was PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS made possible with the assistance of a University ANNOUNCED research grant, and will be released by Atoll Records later this year. A new suite of scholarships, encouraging excellence A CD of Anthony’s piano music has just been in areas of performance including sport, culture, released by Ode Records. Entitled ‘Expressions’, the music and the arts, has been established for first- recording features Tom McGrath in his debut solo year students attending the University of Otago album, playing Piano Sonata 1988, Olveston Suite, next year. The one-off scholarships of $5,000 will be Poems of Spring, and a new piece, A little Sleep, made to academically able students demonstrating which Tom premiered at a lunchtime concert during excellence in these areas. New Zealand citizens or May. A special launch for the CD is planned for permanent residents from throughout New Zealand semester 2 – all will be welcome to attend! will be able to apply. Winners from outside Dunedin will be guaranteed a place in a residential college. The Music Month of May also featured a performance http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago009200. of Anthony’s Piano Concerto No.3 by Emma Sayers html

STUDENT NEWS ALUMNI

Two composition students have been chosen to Our Dunedin-born freelance conductor and PhD have pieces played at the Todd Corporation Young student, Holly Matheson, has moved to London to Composers Awards in September. The students are take up a new position of orchestral librarian with Tom Jensen, a second year student, and Corwin the Philharmonia Orchestra. While she won’t be Newall, a first year student. Their music will be conducting she will be at all Philharmonia rehearsals played by the NZSO and the winner will receive and expects to be learning much repertoire from the performances and a commission to write for the sidelines. National Youth Orchestra. Corwin Newall is also visiting London to have VISITORS some theatrical music performed. Last year he won a National competition involving writing music for a In March, Hilary Paterson, an oboist from South Shakespeare production, and consequently will have Africa, combined with Terence Dennis to present a his music played by the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare lunchtime concert at Marama Hall. Company 2010 at the Globe Theatre, London. Duo Jackson, international performers who live in Liam Kernaghan, Nelson, (Margaret and Miles Jackson) presented a recital of violin and classical guitar in duo. the first recipient of the David A Grant Senior Lecturer Dr Tony Mitchell (University of Memorial Scholarship Technology, Sydney) presented a guest lecture on in Scottish Piping NZ music for MUSI103, and presented a department performed the two seminar titled “Flat City Sounds Redux: A Musical Scottish Airs, The ‘Countercartography’ of Christchurch” on 28 April. Road to the Isles and Amazing Grace, on Mike Dickison, author of the influential book “Kiwi 7th April at a function Ukulele”: presented a guest lecture on the ukulele to mark the 92nd in New Zealand for MUSI103, and conducted a free anniversary of the ukulele instruction workshop in Marama hall on death of David Grant. Monday 19th April for the general community. Another Otago Dr Hwee-San Tan (University of London), gave University student, a guest lecture for MUSI225/325, and presented Tom Hill, a Scottish a seminar titled “Sounds of the Human World: drummer, has been Globalising Buddhist Music as an Expression of awarded a $3,500 David A Grant Memorial Scholarship Spirituality” co-sponsored by Religious Studies and in Scottish Drumming. Asian Studies on 14 April. For information on the University of Otago Scholarships on Scottish Piping and Drumming visit: NEW GRADUATES http://www.otago.ac.nz/music/student/scholarships. 22nd May 2010 html Bachelor of Music The Otago Symphonic Band supported New Freya Broughton-Ansin, Olivia Drake, Zealand Music Month and new works by New Zealand Kathryn Gardner, composers, Anthony Ritchie (Romp), Peter Amos Mann (in absentia), Sian O’Gorman, Adams (Taiaroa Head), 2010 Mozart Fellow Chris Jordan Searle Adams (Progress March), third-year composition Bachelor of Music with Honours student Alex Campbell-Hunt (Lemonland) and Chris Bull,Matthew Caradus Dip Grad student Chris Geddes (Reflections) had Bachelor of Music (Endorsed) world premieres in Dunedin in a show entitled “Black Emma Bevege, Nicholas Braae, Michael Carter, Magic”. Another interesting piece performed was James Coombe, student composer Corwin Newall’s arrangement of Cory-Blue McGregor, Samuel McKean, Chopin’s ‘Fantasy Impromptu’. Reuben Pringle, Tyler Rodden New Graduates Cont’d: Bachelor of Arts (Music Major) Aaron Kearney, Kathryn Roy (in absentia) DipGrad(Endorsed) Emma Bevege Master of Arts Daniel Milosavljevic Tia Solomona Brett Wilson (in absentia)

The Puspawarna Gamelan (featuring staff and students of the Music Dept) played on the lawns in front of the Student Union during the 2010 Orientation week.

This Newsletter is compiled by the Administrative Staff of The Department of Music Telephone/Fax 479 8885 Email:[email protected]