SMCO-SOUNZ Composer Workshop selected works announced

For immediate release

SMCO-SOUNZ Composer Workshop selected works announced

SOUNZ and Auckland based St Matthews Chamber Orchestra (SMCO) are pleased to announce the five composers whose works were selected to be workshopped and performed in August this year. The following works were chosen by a panel consisting of representatives of the SMCO and the Composers Association of New Zealand (CANZ):

Callum Blackmore: 3 vignettes for orchestra
David Hamilton: Solar Phoenix
Andrew McMillian: In the shadow of the dark moon
Denzel Panama: Time in Paradise
Alex Taylor: silk/gravel

London-based New Zealand conductor, and Musical Director of the SMCO, Michael Joel, said, "I'm delighted to be involved in this initiative. Supporting and encouraging composers to create new work is the life-blood of music and this is a wonderful opportunity for SMCO to bring these pieces to the ears of the audience, orchestra members and the composers themselves. I'm really looking forward to working on the five pieces we've selected and bringing them to life - what a privilege!"

The SMCO-SOUNZ Composer Workshop is a new collaboration between the Orchestra and SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. The aim is to create a collection of high quality resources for composers, non-professional orchestras and orchestra directors, to enable them to collaborate on new commissions in the future.

"There are non-professional orchestras throughout New Zealand who are keen to play new music written with their capabilities in mind. I hope that this project will encourage them to commission and play new compositions, and also encourage New Zealand composers to write for such groups of interested musicians," Louise Webster, composer and orchestra member.
ends.

© Scoop Media