SOUNZtender: a musical 'perfect storm'

As 2010 NZ Music Month draws to a close, the Centre for New Zealand Music (SOUNZ) will present a very special concert of new New Zealand music in Wellington.

On Sunday, 30th May, five exciting new works commissioned by the five successful bidders from five inspired composers, will be premiered by five talented Kiwi performers.

"SOUNZtender: the Concert promises to be the New Zealand music event of the year!” says SOUNZ marketing coordinator Stephen Gibbs. "To have the opportunity to hear, in one concert, pianists Diedre Irons, Gao Ping and Donald Nicolson, as well as NZSO clarinettist Phil Green and the New Zealand String Quartet is reason enough, but the prospect of  five new works from composers Eve de Castro-Robinson, Chris Gendall, Ross Harris, John Psathas and Gillian Whitehead transforms this event into something quite extra-ordinary. It is like a positive ‘perfect storm’ in new music!"

SOUNZtender: the Concert is the culmination of a 2009 project in which five award-winning composers offered to write a new work for the highest bidder in a highly successful fundraising auction. The five top-bidders were Barry Margan, Christopher Marshall, Jack C. Richards, Helen Kominik and the Wellington Chamber Music Society. Over the last 12 months the composers have worked alongside the successful commissioners and the five new works have been rehearsed by the five top New Zealand performers listed above. Now, the audience is being invited to take part in celebrating the completion of this creative cycle. 

Tickets for the 11:30am concert in the Ilott Theatre, Wellington are available online through Ticketek for just $20 (plus booking fee).

Listen to the RNZ Concert interview between SOUNZ Executive Director Julie Sperring and Upbeat presenter Eva Radich.