2024 SOUNZ Commission for Orchestra and Sistema Youth Orchestra | Te Tono Mahinga a SOUNZ mā te Rāngi Puoro me te Rāngi Puoro Taiohi a Sistema – winner announced.
SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings – Sistema Hutt Valley are delighted to announce that Wellington-based composer Keith Moss has been selected for the 2024 SOUNZ Commission for Orchestra and Sistema Youth Orchestra. Keith will be working with Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings – Sistema Hutt Valley on a new work and is looking forward to writing an engaging piece for the youth of Arohanui Strings, enhanced by the Orchestra Wellington musicians.
Claire Szabó, SOUNZ’s Interim Chief Executive, said, “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Arohanui Strings and Orchestra Wellington on this very special project. The creation of this new work, in partnership with these two ensembles, exemplifies our mission to celebrate the rich and diverse music of Aotearoa New Zealand. We are eagerly anticipating the unfolding of this project with Keith for this year’s commission, which promises to be a highlight of the year.”
Keith said, “I'm delighted to accept this wonderful opportunity from SOUNZ to write a combined work for my home town Orchestra Wellington featuring Arohanui Strings. Arriving at this moment from a string teaching background, I look forward to meeting the young players of the Sistema Youth Orchestra and finding out what we can do together to write a new piece inspired by mythological narratives from my home country of South Africa. Having this opportunity to share some of my cultural background with audiences in New Zealand is a fantastic platform, and initiatives like these, that continue to form connections between orchestra's, youth groups, composers and the community are essential to the lifeblood of art and culture in every country. These connections keep music alive and important.”
The project, which is now in its seventh 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 November 2024.
Last year, the commission was awarded to composer Gemma Peacocke for her work Manta. The evocative piece, inspired by the journey of manta rays in the seas around Aotearoa New Zealand, was performed by Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings during the 2023 season at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.
