G.69 Annual Report 2019 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 NEW ZEALAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 1 2 Contents NZSO: Vision, Mission, and Values 2 Chair’s Preface 5 Artistic Overview 9 Organisational Structure 16 Governance Statement 17 Statement of Responsibility 19 Statement of Service Performance 20 Financial Statements 25 Independent Auditor’s Report 42 Organisational Health and Capability 45 The Board have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for the year ended 31 December 2019. Laurence Kubiak Geoff Dangerfield Board Chair Board Member 31 August 2020 Audit Committee Member 31 August 2020 Vision and Mission Values THE VISION WHAT WE DO Providing world class musical experiences that We value excellent engagement inspire all New Zealanders. • We identify strongly with one another and with New Zealanders. achieved by • We ensure that our work is relevant to our audiences. THE MISSION • We communicate openly and honestly with one another and with New Zealanders. Deepening and expanding musical connections and engagement with our communities. HOW WE DO IT We value creative excellence through • We are passionate about our music and strive to share it widely. A NATIONAL FULLTIME • We are innovative and creative in all aspects FULL SIZE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA of our activities. which • We are inspired to be excellent in all our Performs to an international standard performances. is Excellent in performance HOW WE BEHAVE has We value excellent relationships Relevant and engaging programming, Reaches large and diverse audiences • We always act with fairness, honesty and transparency. and asserts • We trust, respect, acknowledge and Musical and artistic leadership. support each other. A symphony orchestra which has • We always act with integrity. Best practice operations, A shared and productive organisational culture, Sustainable management of all resources and Excellent systems and processes. Objectives of the Orchestra Functions of the Orchestra The objectives of the orchestra are outlined in The functions of the orchestra are outlined in Section 8 of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Section 9 of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Act 2004, as follows: Act 2004, as follows: • to provide the public of New Zealand with live • to ensure that the orchestra presents a broad and recorded performances of symphonic repertoire of orchestral performance including music performed to an international standard New Zealand works and recent works • to provide an orchestra that— • to encourage the development of New Zealand (i) is highly skilled and artistically imaginative; musicians and (ii) has strong community support • to encourage the development of New • to be a leading New Zealand performing arts Zealanders’ knowledge and appreciation of organisation with a role in the development of a orchestral music distinctively New Zealand cultural environment • to develop and expand the audience of the • to promote and encourage New Zealand orchestra on a national basis musical composition and composers • to provide a touring orchestra (which may also • to provide performance opportunities for New include international performances) Zealand musicians, whether as members of the • to carry out any other functions consistent with orchestra or as soloists. its principal objectives, as agreed to by the Minister after consultation with the orchestra • to co-operate with other similar institutions and organisations having objectives similar to those 2 of the orchestra. Values Cheryl Hollinger, Trumpet Elspeth Gray and Katherine Rowe, Second Violin Chair’s preface 2019 was a year of achievement for the NZSO. soprano Anna Larsson and soprano Lauren Our stand-out programme of activities reached Snouffer were well-matched and the contribution many new audiences and thrilled and delighted of experienced Mahlerian Larsson demonstrated our established audiences. We used what we just why she is held in such high regard. There had learned from year of experimentation (2018) were capacity houses in each centre and these to design programmes which appeal to New engaging performances, greeted with prolonged Zealanders of all ages and backgrounds, from one applause and enthusiastic standing ovations, will be end of the country to the other. remembered for years to come. Our core Podium Series continued to attract In its role as New Zealand’s national orchestra, the finest musicians from around the world, the NZSO undertook two important music projects including several New Zealanders. It is a tribute to in its contribution to Tuia – Encounters 250, the the international quality of New Zealand’s national national commemoration in 2019 to mark 250 years orchestra that so many renowned musicians since the first onshore meetings between Māori and give the NZSO such a high priority in their busy James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour. international schedules. The NZSO truly is he piki The partnership project, An Instrumental kōtuku ki ō tātou māhunga, he mapihi maurea ō Voyage for school audiences, features orchestral tātou taringa – a heron plume for our heads, and a instruments, taonga puoro and waiata in telling the treasure for our ears. story of Cook’s arrival in 1769 and the subsequent In contrast, the inaugural Experience offerings impacts of this event. This was performed for explored music in a different way with the audiences in Dunedin, Christchurch, Blenheim, establishment of the Shed and Baroque Series on Lower Hutt and Porirua who responded strongly to a permanent footing and the beginning of their the rich blend of bicultural elements in the piece. expansion throughout New Zealand. We also The final two orchestral works of five continued to build the emerging audience for commissioned by the NZSO from New Zealand symphonic music within popular culture which composers, written to scenarios on themes related through performances of Star Wars films with live to Cook’s first landfall, were premiered in the 2019 orchestra in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. season. This series of works is now complete Learning and Connecting brought together a and creates a fitting musical narrative to the set of key functions for the NZSO. These included remembrance of the momentous impact of Cook’s education activities comprising schools concerts, arrival. The NZSO now plans to record and release the development of young musicians through the them as a set. NZSO National Youth Orchestra, masterclasses, These achievements are testimony to the tutoring, mentoring and engagement through a quality of our musicians and the significance of student fellowship scheme. Another important the NZSO’s legislative mandate as the country’s development was the commitment to creating and national orchestra to tour and to be a leading New implementing bicultural music projects with a 2019 Zealand performing arts organisation with a role partnership producing the highly successful Tuia – in the development of a distinctively New Zealand Encounters 250 project, An Instrumental Voyage. cultural environment. A major musical highlight was the much- Nevertheless, there are risks as well as anticipated Beethoven Festival which exceeded opportunities for any organisation taking strong expectations and was a critical and financial initiatives in responding to a complex operating success. All of the concerts in the cycle of the environment – and the NZSO has been no complete symphonies, Heroic, Destiny, Pastoral and exception. The Board has engaged a number of Joy, exceeded box office and attendance targets. expert advisers to help us build an organisation Music Director Edo de Waart’s experience and which can capture the opportunities while affinity with this repertoire produced exhilarating managing the risks. We have also undertaken and insightful readings of these works, delighting thorough reviews of our systems – financial, the capacity audiences. The performances of the operational, and IT – with a view to establishing Choral Symphony were especially memorable with processes with supporting systems which are fine contributions from a strong quartet of soloists future-ready and agile enough to respond to the and the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. rapidly changing patterns in audience demand. Edo de Waart also delivered another musical The recommendations of these reviews are highlight with his performances of Mahler’s being implemented as I write these words. A Symphony No.2 Resurrection to close the season. comprehensive review of the NZSO’s governance These were a magnificent and fitting finale to his procedures was also undertaken and the tenure as NZSO Music Director. Soloists mezzo- development of a new five-year strategic plan is of 5 the highest priority. The entire organisation – the When the contributions of more than 300 Players, the Support Team, Management and Board individual donors, trusts and foundations and – are intent upon creating an organisation that can bequestors are included the significance of this meet the challenges of the complex 21st century support and its impact on the NZSO’s capacity operation sustainably and with confidence. The to tour and perform can be appreciated. I offer Board is currently engaging with the Government, my warmest thanks to all those who support the through the Ministry for Culture & Heritage about NZSO directly in this way. a sustainable future funding mechanism for the The NZSO is entering a period of major NZSO, thus providing greater certainty for the transition and change. In addition to