SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music

19/06/2026

Winning third place at this year's Lilburn Trust NZSM Composers Competition was Sara Arain's 'Bridging SIlences'. This expressive and emotive string quartet moves between restraint and release, freedom and captivity, silence and sound. It's a tribute to the strength of Sara's mother and her refusal to be silenced in a society that expects this of women. Watch the whole performance at the link in our bio.⁠
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Performed by Alan Kao and Michelle Brown (violins), Annabelle Frances Thorpe (viola) and DJ Hopkinson (cello). Audio engineered by Thorin Williams and mixed/mastered by Graham Kennedy. Film funded by NZ On Air

New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington

16/06/2026

Over the next two weeks, we'll be sharing what the next generation of composers has been up to, with films from last year's Lilburn Trust NZSM Composers Competition. Kicking things off is Caoimhe Lane’s highly-commended and highly atmospheric, ‘Querinous’, which depicts the sense of longing for certainty in a new relationship.

🎥 Watch the full collection from the concert on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjqwPJu2kmN5AhofzL085GSzGGT49K5uv
📽️ Check out the full performance of 'Querinous' here: https://youtu.be/BFwxLViJpLc

Performed by Caoimhe Lane (voice), Miru Shimaoka and Michelle Brown (violins), Annabelle Thorpe (viola) and DJ Hopkinson (cello). Audio engineered by Thorin Williams and mixed/mastered by Graham Kennedy. Film funded by NZ On Air.

New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Victoria University of Wellington, Keeva's Music

15/06/2026

Our small and mighty team is looking for a new member, who’s just as committed as we are to promoting and supporting the sounds and music of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Music and Services Advisor | Kaitohu Puoro, Ratonga works 30 hours per week, as the friendly face and knowledgeable voice of SOUNZ HQ. If you have strong administrative and communication skills, and a thorough music background, get in touch!

For more information and to apply, head to our website. You've got until 6 July: https://sounz.org.nz/work-us

12/06/2026

Ross Harris' dark and brooding Symphony No. 8 depicts the devastation of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Interestingly scored for strings and percussion without woodwind or brass sections, the work begins with a tearful lament for strings alone, before the percussionists gradually intrude. The three bass drums serve as a outcry against the futility of war - the chaos of which can be heard in this short clip. Check out the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with conductor Benjamin Northey performing the whole work on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/EnNntvDdMso

Audio by David Houston for RNZ Concert. Assistant engineering by Alexander Harmer and Bryony Lastovicka. Film funded by NZ On Air.

11/06/2026

New at the SOUNZ Shop - thanks to Debbie Rawson, Creative New Zealand and NZMEB - are three sets of progressively difficult pieces for clarinettists and bass clarinettists. Featuring works from Gareth Farr, Ross Harris, and Nat Hunt, these collections have been carefully curated for clarinet teachers and their students who want to work on more music from Aotearoa in their learning. Check them out on our website and get started on New Zealand music earlier!

👉 https://sounz.org.nz/articles/nzmeb-clarinet

09/06/2026

In celebration of our move into the new Toi Aro arts centre on Market Lane, we're opening our doors to the music community on Sunday 12 July. Riki Pirihi will lead a free Rangatuone/Conduction workshop, putting together a new conducted work, with some written material and some guided improvisation for musicians, and an informal public performance to follow. Register to save your place! https://sounz.org.nz/news/rangatuone

Wellington City Council Toi Poneke Arts Centre

08/06/2026

Poignant and tender, thoughtful and sombre, John Psathas's piano quintet 'i borrow moonlight for this journey of a million miles', completes our coverage of NZ composers' tributes to the late, great Martin Lodge. Jonathan Jung (piano) and the Jade String Quartet perform this work, based on a Japanese death haiku. On this work, and the poem on which it is based, John says: "Not morbid or depressing at all, but deeply inspiring, often profound, and sometimes, even, humorous. I believed Martin would be one of the few people I knew who would feel these haiku in the same way."

🎥 Watch the full film on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/44uW-LvShxA
🎧 Purchase Aeon, an album of Rattle, at https://rattle.co.nz/catalogue/releases/aeon.

Audio recorded by Bjørn Arntsen. Film funded by NZ On Air.

05/06/2026

Co-composed by Martin Lodge and Bjørn Arntsen, 'The Rest is Silence' was written in the final months of Martin's life. They composed the work together, with Martin singing humming pitch sets and Bjørn writing at the harpsichord. Hidden inside are some musical cryptograms or ciphers that spell out Martin's name, and those of his family, friends, and collaborators.

🎥 Watch the full film at https://youtu.be/z83rC1XvA4o
🎧 Purchase Aeon, an album of Rattle, at https://rattle.co.nz/catalogue/releases/aeon

Performed by the Jade String Quartet as part of Aeon - a concert dedicated to the memory of Martin Lodge. Audio recorded by Bjørn Arntsen. Film funded by NZ On Air.

04/06/2026

Written for Martin Lodge's wife and partner for over fifty years, Gail Pittaway, Dame Gillian Whitehead's three untitled pieces for solo violin are characterful and dramatic. The pieces moves from ethereal high melodies and floating gestures to intense tremolo sections and chorale-like harmonies, where violinist Lara Hall plays in harmony with herself through double stopping or through left-hand pizzicato during long notes.⁠
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Performed as part of Aeon - a concert dedicated to the memory of Martin Lodge. Purchase Aeon, an album of Rattle, at rattle.co.nz⁠
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Audio recorded by Bjørn Arntsen. Film funded by NZ On Air.

03/06/2026

This week our Projects and Collection Coordinator, Mana Waiariki has been at the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, as a 2026 Fellow. She interviewed Salina Fisher - Composer about her work ‘Chasm’, which was commissioned for this year's competition and has been performed by all 16 of the competitors. Check out their kōrero on the inspiration and story behind Salina's work!

The 2026 MHIVC commissioned composer, Salina Fisher, sits down with Mana to discuss her commissioned work ‘Chasm’ and why the history of the MHIVC commission...