SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music

08/09/2026

We finish up our coverage of The Tudor Consort's 'O nata lux' concert with a film of Ross Harris at his most tonal! 'Vobiscum in aeternum' acts as a prelude to the Tudor motet 'If ye love me'. Searching and ever-evolving, Ross's dense and canonic Latin setting of the text eventually moves into a performance of Thomas Tallis’ original work, sung in English - but to hear that glorious transition, you'll have to watch the full film over at the link in our bio! ⁠
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Audio recorded by RNZ Concert. Film funded by NZ On Air.

07/09/2026

Just four days left to get your application in for the SOUNZ KBB Music Festival Commission! We're looking for a talented SOUNZ Composer to write new eight-minute work for concert band, which will be premiered at next year's KBB Music Festival. Head to our website at the link below and be sure to send in your application by 5pm this Friday 11 September

🎷🎺🥁🪈 https://sounz.org.nz/news/sounz-kbb-commission

04/09/2026

As we transition from winter into spring, we thought it'd be a good time to share Victoria Kelly Composer’s upcoming Martinborough Music Festival premiere of 'Season Creep'! Written in response to Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic 'Four Seasons', her two-movement string quartet bookends the four Baroque violin concerti, with both movements of Victoria’s work entitled 'Winter into Spring'. We chatted to Victoria as she put the finishing touches on the work to find out about writing in response to a cycle of seasons that no longer exists.

Check out the whole article on our website: https://sounz.org.nz/articles/victoria-kelly-season-creep ❄️🌿

03/09/2026

The Tudor Consort singing in 16-part harmony is really a glorious thing to listen to! In today's SOUNZ Film the choir performs David Griffiths' reverent and dramatic 'O nata lux' - translated as "light born of light". The choir, under the direction of Michael Stewart moves between tension and resolution, filling the space at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul with a sound that seems much larger than the real size of the ensemble.

Hear the full work in all its glory on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/k8nYCTByy4w

Audio recorded by RNZ Concert. Film funded by NZ On Air.

01/09/2026

We're proud to join our music industry colleagues by signing on to the New Zealand Music Manifesto, asking our next government to pull a number of levers to better support and resource the music industry. Head to our website to download or read the full document. Particular thanks to our friends over at Recorded Music NZ for all the effort they've put into this important mahi!

🔊 https://sounz.org.nz/news/nz-music-manifesto

31/08/2026

'He Kihi o te Rā' can be translated as 'the kiss of the sun'. We certainly feel sun-kissed and highly-favoured listening to this gorgeous choral work by Takerei Komene, performed by The Tudor Consort. This final section of the piece sees the choir finally join together in long sweeping lines full of joyful harmony.

☀️ To watch the full performance, head to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/CRlorE-Osuc

Audio recorded by RNZ Concert. Film funded by NZ On Air.

28/08/2026

Taonga puoro dances and chatters around the flute in Dame Gillian Whitehead's 'Hineraukatauri'. This work, performed by Stroma's Alistair Fraser and Bridget Douglas, portrays Hine Raukatauri - as the atua of music and dance - in moth from, singing in a pure high voice to attract the attention of male moths.

Give it a listen this Marama Puoru Waiata Māori - Māori Music Month! https://youtu.be/ZwRhohApAWY

Audio recorded by RNZ Concert, film funded by NZ On Air.

27/08/2026

🌕 Kua hua te mārama - the moon is full.

Inspired by the otherworldly nature of moonlight, Takerei Komene's 'Te Māhina' features many stretto cascading lines, where voices enter rapidly one after another, creating expressive and beautiful dissonances between parts that are gradually resolved. This beautiful work is a depiction of Takerei's trip up Maitārangi Mt Victoria, where he was taken with "the sleepy kisses of the moon, and her warmth during the stark silence of Te Pō-nui.”

🌙 Watch the full performance: https://youtu.be/8s8debNwnW4

Performed by The Tudor Consort (conductor Michael Stewart; Max Toth, piano). Audio recorded by RNZ Concert. Film funded by NZ On Air.

25/08/2026

We’re very pleased to stand alongside our colleagues with today’s release of the 2026 NZ Music Industry Manifesto 👏🏼👏🏼

Recorded Music NZ has led the development of a New Zealand Music Industry Manifesto, released today ahead of the 2026 General Election

The NZ music industry contributes nearly $1 billion to GDP and builds this country’s brand in international markets more effectively than any advertising campaign. Our music is a source of pride and inspiration for audiences across Aotearoa 💓 reflecting our unique cultural identity

This election year, we are asking government and political parties to commit to targeted action to help our industry reach its potential 📣

We have seven key asks for government action:

✔️ Music Industry Growth Strategy – Recognise music as a growth industry alongside screen and games
✔️ Copyright Law & AI Regulation – Hold the line and protect artists’ rights to choose how their work is used
✔️ Music Infrastructure & Artist Development – Aotearoa is bursting with musical talent but the infrastructure needs support
✔️ Export: Supercharge Growth – Treat music export with the strategic seriousness applied to primary industries
✔️ Māori Music Development – Our unique offering to the world
✔️ Government Levers: Discoverability – Use existing tools to amplify Aotearoa music
✔️ Music Education – The talent pipeline begins in the classroom

The Manifesto was created in collaboration with APRA AMCOS NZ, NZ Music Commission and a cohort of industry partners 🙏

View the Manifesto in full >>https://cdn.sanity.io/files/oursm957/development/7388be6d5d40589123afbc5135b35aa4071d1030.pdf

25/08/2026

Claire Cowan Composer is getting her score for Cinderella recorded and needs your help! After a hugely successful Royal New Zealand Ballet tour, and numerous concert outings of the music, Claire's 'Cinderella' will be among the first scores to be played and recorded in the new Te Whare Whakarauika Wellington Town Hall - by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Orpheus Choir Wellington.

Help Claire to get her music heard here and programmed internationally by contributing to her Boosted NZ campaign before 9 September!

Boosted is Aotearoa New Zealand’s only arts crowdfunding platform. We’re here to bring creatives and supporters together to grow creativity. With our mentored approach to crowdfunding, we have one of the world's highest crowdfunding success rates and have helped creatives raise millions since 20...