SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings – Sistema Hutt Valley are delighted to announce that Wellington/New Jersey-based composer Gemma Peacocke has been selected for the 2023 SOUNZ Commission for Orchestra and Sistema Youth Orchestra. Gemma will be working with Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings – Sistema Hutt Valley on a new work and is looking forward to writing a ‘children-led’ piece, enhanced by the Orchestra Wellington musicians.
Diana Marsh, SOUNZ’s Chief Executive, said, “We really enjoy working with Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings on this highly collaborative project. This opportunity supports our mission to ensure the music of Aotearoa New Zealand music is widely heard and valued, and this project is a fantastic way to achieve this. We are looking forward to working with Gemma on the 2023 commission.”
Gemma said, “I feel really honoured to be able to write for Arohanui Strings and Orchestra Wellington and to spend time getting to know the young string players who will premiere the new piece. I grew up playing violin in the Waikato Youth Orchestra and the experience was formative for me. It’s a privilege to come home to Pōneke to collaborate with these performers and I’m grateful to SOUNZ for the opportunity.”
The project, which is now in its sixth year, is a collaboration between SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings – Sistema Hutt Valley. Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings will perform the new commission as part of a concert at the Michael Fowler Centre in October 2023.
Last year, the commission was awarded to Wellington composer Glen Downie for his work Well Within the Madding Crowd. The piece, inspired by an intoxicating blend of Latin jazz, Soul/R&B and avant-garde classical music, was performed by Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings during the 2022 season at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.
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