Trans-Tasman Composer Exchange

The Australian Music Centre and SOUNZ collaborate on the Trans-Tasman composer exchange – a residency scheme lasting between six weeks and two months during which time a composer from one country is hosted by a leading professional performing group in the other. As well as writing a new work, the composer takes part in activities which promote the music of each country's composers, such as seminars, interviews and workshops. The exchange is managed in turn by AMC and SOUNZ with the respective funding assistance from the Australia Council for the Arts and Creative New Zealand .

Gareth Farr (NZ)	James Ledger (Aus)	James Gardner (NZ)	Colin Bright (Aus)

In 2003 Gareth Farr was selected as the first Trans Tasman Exchange composer. He spent time with the Sydney-based Song Company, which involved writing the Les Murray Song Cycle and collaborating with Malaysian composers on works involving gamelan.

In 2004, West Australian composer, James Ledger spent several weeks in Christchurch working with the Christchurch Symphony. The work he completed for them, Crossing the Ditch, was premiered by the orchestra on November 25, 2005.

James Gardner was the 2005 Trans-Tasman Exchange composer. He worked with ELISION, Australia's premier new music ensemble, who celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2006. After workshopping his ideas with the ensemble, James has created a work for clarinet, trombone, electric guitar, percussion and live electronics called Substance and Process. This work will be part of a series of pieces called Surveillance for various combinations of instruments, all electronically modified in real time.

The 2006 Trans-Tasman resident was Australian composer Colin Bright who worked with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Colin visited New Zealand three times to work with the orchestra. They premiered work Surf Symphony in January 2008 and in April 2007 they programmed his orchestral suite, Oceania, which is taken from his opera The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.

Kenneth Young (NZ)	Stuart Greenbaum (Aus)

In 2008 and 2009 New Zealand composer, Kenneth Young has been hosted by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. As a result his Lux Aeterna will be premiered by the TSO on July 24, 2009.

The 2009 Trans-tasman recipient is Dr. Stuart Greenbaum, Head of Composition at the  Faculty of the VCA and Music, University of Melbourne. Stuart will work with the NZTrio in Aucklnad towards a piece to be performed in 2010. 

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