SOUNZtender - the Concert

As 2010 NZ Music Month draws to a close,  the Centre for New Zealand Music (SOUNZ) will present an extra-ordinary concert of new New Zealand music.  On Sunday, 30th May, five exciting new works from five inspired composers supported by five generous commissioners, will be premiered by five talented Kiwi performers  before one privileged audience!

“For those who like their music ‘contemporary-classical cutting-edge’, SOUNZtender: the Concert promises to be the New Zealand music event of the year!” says SOUNZ marketing coordinator Stephen Gibbs. “To have the opportunity, in one concert,  to hear pianists Diedre Irons, Gao Ping and Donald Nicolson, as well as NZSO clarinetist Phil Green and the New Zealand String Quartet is reason enough, but the prospect of  five exciting new works from composers  Eve de Castro-Robinson, Chris Gendall, Ross Harris, John Psathas and Gillian Whitehead transforms this event into something  quite extra-ordinary. It is like a positive ‘perfect storm’ in new music!” 

SOUNZtender: the Concert is the culmination of a 2009 project in which these five award-winning composers offered to write a new work for the highest bidder in an innovative online fundraising auction. The successful bidders for the commissions were Barry Margan, Dr. Jack C Richards, Christopher Marshall, Helen Kominik and the Wellington Chamber Music Society. Over the last 12 months the composers have worked alongside the successful commissioners and the new works have been rehearsed by top New Zealand performers. Now, the audience is being invited to take part in celebrating the completion of this creative cycle as all five works receive their world premieres in the same concert on Sunday 30th May. 

Tickets for the 11:30am concert in the Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, are available online through Ticketek for just $20, plus a booking fee.