Performer

Profile

175 East, one of New Zealand’s foremost contemporary music ensembles, presents concerts of cutting-edge music.

Since its inception in 1996, the ensemble has performed over 215 pieces, including numerous world and New Zealand premieres, and over 50 pieces have been specifically written for it. In 2003, the ensemble was awarded the CANZ/KBB Citation for Services to New Zealand Music.

175 East have performed works by such internationally renowned composers as Richard Barrett, John Cage, Elliott Carter, James Dillon, Morton Feldman, Brian Ferneyhough, Michael Finnissy, Christopher Fox, Sofia Gubaidulina, Mauricio Kagel, Liza Lim, Olga Neuwirth, Wolfgang Rihm, Kaija Saariaho, Giacinto Scelsi, Christian Wolff, Iannis Xenakis and Frank Zappa.

The ensemble has also commissioned and premièred new works by New Zealand composers such as Helen Bowater, Chris Cree Brown, Phil Brownlee, Rachel Clement, Lyell Cresswell, Phil Dadson, James Gardner, Neville Hall, Ross Harris, Samuel Holloway, Dorothy Ker, Dylan Lardelli, Michael Norris, John Psathas, John Rimmer, Jeroen Speak and Chris Watson.

The current members of 175 East are Ingrid Culliford (flutes), Gretchen La Roche (clarinets), Andrew Uren (clarinets), Tim Sutton (bass trombone), Katherine Hebley (cello) and Michael Steer (double bass). The group is often conducted by Hamish McKeich. James Gardner directed the ensemble from 1996-2010; Samuel Holloway is the current Artistic Director.