Flute Focus: New Zealand Compositions

As part of an ongoing series on New Zealand music, Flute Focus would like to offer the opportunity for New Zealand composers to present their talents to the world.

We envisage the following process:

* New Zealand composers would write a piece of no more than 2 A4 pages of music, submitted as a pdf file.
* The piece should be of about grade 5-6 standard.
* Style and genre left up to the composer, with any form of flute as a possible instrument.
* The piece will be loaded on the Flute Focus website, originally for a month as a ‘Featured Composition’, and then accessible through a list of compositions.
* The piece will be available for performers to download and use (with copyright retained by the composer), and where relevant usual performance royalties would apply (via APRA).
* The composer would also submit a page of background info and brief biographical notes.

If you would like to take up this opportunity then please click here to go to the submit Content form at www.flutefocus.com

AYO Composer in Residence opportunity

AUCKLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Composer-in-Residence 2010

The Auckland Youth Orchestra is seeking expressions of interest for the position of its Composer in Residence for the 2010 season. Candidates must be under 26 years of age at the time of application.

The candidate will be someone who presents the best ideas for a composition appropriate for a youth orchestra, will benefit the most from holding the residency and from the activities and opportunities associated with it.

The composer in residence will have the following opportunities:
• Composing a work of no less than 3 minutes and no more than 5 minutes duration for the core instrumentation and resources of the orchestra. This work to be premiered during the orchestra’s 2010 season.
• Composing one minor commission, such as a short orchestral work suitable for an education concert, a fanfare or overture, a chamber work, an occasional piece for a special event or other works to be agreed.

Each expression of interest should include the following:
• a CV, including references if possible
• a score of at least one relevant and representative work, preferably accompanied by a sound file or recording
• a covering letter specifically addressing the following:
how the candidate would benefit from the residency
– how the candidate would be able to fulfill the role of the composer in residence as described above
– specific ideas the candidate has in mind as major and minor commissions

Please note that scores and recordings will not be returned.
Please do not send originals.

Applications are due by Monday 14 December 2009. Late applications may still be considered.

Please send to:
Antun Poljanich, Music Director, Auckland Youth Orchestra
c/o St Peters College, Mountain Road, Newmarket, Auckland
a.poljanich@st-peters.school.nz

Significant changes afoot at SOUNZ

Some significant leadership and governance changes are taking place at SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music.

Executive Director Scilla Askew will depart her post at this national arts organisation in February 2010. Elizabeth Kerr will join the organisation as Chair of the Board of Trustees in December 2009, replacing previous Chair, Lloyd Williams, who will be stepping down after his three-year tenure.

After more than a decade as Executive Director, Ms Askew leaves SOUNZ in a strong position. Having recently brought the organisation through major changes which include the development of SOUNZ Online, a comprehensive web-based business system and digitisation project, she noted that, “My time here has been tremendously rewarding and I am confident that the organisation will continue to make a vital contribution to our cultural landscape. Now, for me, it is time for some new challenges!”.

During her time at SOUNZ, Ms Askew has helped to facilitate many projects and partnerships to support the promotion of music by New Zealand composers, including the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings, SOUNZwrite education guides for schools and the SOUNZ Community Commission. She played an important role in the purchase of Douglas Lilburn’s house which is New Zealand’s only official residence available to selected composers and in 2004 her work was recognised by the Composers Association of New Zealand when she was awarded the KBB Citation for Services to NZ Music.

Incoming Chair Elizabeth Kerr says she wants to pay tribute to the leadership team of Ms Askew and outgoing Chair Lloyd Williams, who have achieved “some magnificent work” over recent years. “The launch of SOUNZ Online and the very many initiatives that have been launched over the last decade have significantly lifted the profile of New Zealand composers internationally.”

A highly respected arts manager herself, Ms Kerr has had a long career in music and the arts as teacher, lecturer, arts manager and board member. Currently Manager of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust, Ms Kerr has previously been Manager of Music programmes at the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand, Manager of Concert FM, Chief Executive of Relationship Services, Chief Executive of NZ Historic Places Trust and Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand from 2000 till 2006.

She has served on the boards of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand String Quartet Trust, the Antarctic Heritage Council and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), and is currently on the boards of the Douglas Lilburn Studio Trust and the Vector Wellington Orchestra. Ms Kerr has also worked as a commentator in print and broadcast media, including six years as “Concert” columnist for the NZ Listener.

Of her new role as Chair of SOUNZ, Ms Kerr says, “New Zealand has many wonderful composers and it’s important that their voices continue to be heard nationally and internationally. SOUNZ is promoting their work very successfully and I’m honoured to be able to return to a role in an organisation doing such significant work so well.”

Applications for the position of Executive Director are open from 30 October at http://sounz.org.nz/content/application_ed