department of music
newsletter
2014 – SEMESTER ONE
Alumni
Pat Hargreaves
After leaving Dunedin in 2003, I followed my girlfriend to
Switzerland. I found a job at the University of Zürich (I actually
graduated from Otago with a Masters in Toxicology), and
I settled in to Zürich. I decided to make contact with other
musicians and I soon met the leader of an established Indie/
Pop band called “Valium 21”. They were looking to add a
second guitarist and vocalist to their line up. After playing with
them once or twice and liking the ‘vibe’ they had in the band,
I decided to join them. What I realized only later was that they
were a “Mundart” band, meaning I had to sing backing vocals in
the local dialect of Züri-deutsch! It did work out for me though,
and it enabled me to learn a little of the local language. Also,
luckily for me, as the band was already fairly established, I was
soon playing gigs around Switzerland.
In 2004 and 2005, we recorded and released an album entitled
“Zonarzwilling”, and played a variety of gigs in support of other
bands. Shortly after this, I decided to put together some of my
own solo songs, and in 2005 and 2006, I recorded and released
my first album, Sequestered Luminosities. At the end of 2007, I
parted company with Valium 21 as I began an eighteen-month
trip through South America.
After returning to Basel, Switzerland at the end of 2008, I found
another job and started to search for another local band to join.
I made contact with some musicians who were looking to start
a new alt/rock project, which sounded interesting to me. Shortly
thereafter, the band was christened “There Will Be Lions” and
we started writing songs. As of late 2013, our second EP, The
Awakening has been available and we are beginning to make a
reputation in the local music scene.
While doing all of this, I also managed to record and release
my second solo album, Shipwrecked Shoes. I was now a
more organized and sent my album and biography to local
newspapers, ‘fanzines’ and radio stations. I have now had
two songs on the local radio (Feelin’ Free and Sea Song), a
small album review in an online magazine, and I have had an
interview on the local television station TeleBasel.
As a solo artist, I also feel like I’m slowly getting somewhere. It’s
hard work as a modern musician having to battle the business on
all fronts, but there is reward in every process and in the end the
journey is the interesting part.
I live in Basel and work
as a Toxicologist at a
small Pharmaceutical
company. I have
a three-year-old
daughter, a one-yearold son and, funnily
enough, I am married
to the girl who I
followed here in the
first place.
My most influential
bands/musicians
include: FUGAZI,
Pavement, Freddie
King, Elliott Smith,
Laura Veirs, The
Rolling Stones and Led
Zeppelin.
Useful links:
valium.ch/
exitmusic.ch/rezensionen/neuerscheinungen/pat_hargreaves_
shipwrecked_shoes_.html (for an English translation of this, check
my website) pathargreaves.com
therewillbelions.com
Lucia Gao
I won the “New Zealand’s Chinese New Talent Singing
Competition 2014” and I am going to compete in Hong Kong as
the only representative of New Zealand in October 2014.
The competition involved not only singing, but also
performance. I therefore played the violin solo Wave of Danube,
and received the loudest applause! I graduated from the University of Otago in 2013 with a
Bachelor of Commerce. I also studied for two years in violin
performance with Tessa Petersen. She is such a patient and
amazing teacher. I feel like I can always go to her for help and is
always so nice to me. She helped me to improve my bowing and
the sound quality. During my two years of performance study, I
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my dream when offers of paid composing work began to
trickle into my inbox. Since then, I have had the privilege to
write for several international TV documentaries – Wildlife Warzone (a 6 x 25minute TV show with 5to9) and End
of the Wild (a 90minute TV feature with Natural History
NZ). I also had the opportunity to write the score for feature
documentary, Soul in the Sea, which played in NZ cinemas
as part of the New Zealand Film Festival 2013.
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gained so much performing experience. It is because of this
experience that I was brave enough to stand on the stage
showing my skills to the audience.
Thank you very much, Tessa! Matt Caradus
As artists, I believe we need to discover the things that drive
us to be creative. Once we find these, we need to surround
ourselves with them as much as we can. Studying music at
Otago from 2006 to 2010, I discovered the concept of screen
composition. I found that I loved the process, and I loved
the music that I wrote while composing for a film. Prior to
that, I found composing to be a creative struggle as I tried
to compose music seemingly from nowhere and fill a blank
piece of paper. When I composed for a film, however, the
music almost seemed to write itself. In my third year of
study, I decided I would become a ‘film composer’, little did I
know how challenging a task I had set myself! Since graduating with a BMus Honours (1st class) in
February 2010, I have been pursuing a full-time career in
screen composing. I have written music for over thirty short
films and documentaries, as well as many other smaller
projects during the past five years. Each one has been a
labour of love, and each the best work of art I could create
at the time. I mostly worked for free on student and selffunded ‘indie’ projects. In early 2013, I was about to achieve
Visitors
Tiki Taane
In March this year, Dr Oli Wilson hosted a visit from
acclaimed NZ songwriter/performer/ producer, Tiki Taane.
During his visit, Taane gave a lecture to MUSI103 (Music
in Popular Culture) students and worked with Doctoral of
Musical Arts (DMA) students and Tutor Mike Holland in
Albany Street recording studios. Taane also collaborated
with Oli on some new research exploring Tiki’s use of
traditional Mäori music and instruments in his recent
albums.
A video of students using our facility with Tiki Taane
was produced by the University of Otago Marketing
and Communications Department in collaboration with
Crescendo Management.
vimeo.com/88858737
Dr Oli Wilson with visiting producer Tiki Taane
after his guest lecture in MUSI103.
I have discovered that simply having a degree and wanting
to be a composer is a far cry from actually doing the job
professionally. You have got to be reliable and hard working,
you have to network and meet as many filmmakers as
you can in order to form solid working-relationships with
them. You also need to have an excellent portfolio, a well–
constructed website and appropriate promotional materials.
You are a ‘one-person’ business competing for limited work
in a very competitive industry. Finishing a music degree is
only the beginning of your learning, it may take a few years
of honing your craft and building your professional network,
but the end result is definitely worth it!
Multi-platinum international producer, Greg Haver
(Manic Street Preachers, Mel C and others), visited the
Music Department in April, and gave music industry and
production workshops to our Contemporary Performance
and Music Industry students. Dr Oli Wilson, who recorded
with Haver in 2012, coordinated the visit. she engaged with the Department’s community programmes.
The Department was able to be kept informed on cutting
edge international music research; make comparisons with
a music programme at the University of London; extend
research collaborations with current and future projects;
and consolidate and extend a professional relationship with
an internationally renowned researcher and educator. Two
highlights of her visit were her Research Seminar, co-hosted
by the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology and
the Music Department; and a Research Seminar co-hosted by
the Cross-Cultural and Comparative Studies Research Theme
and the Music Department.
Alexander Technique with David Moore
On March 30th, violin performance students had a session
with David Moore, visiting teacher and practitioner from the
School for Alexander Technique in Melbourne, Australia.
MUSI185 guest lecturer and Music Managers Forum (MMF)
representative Tim Couch (left) discusses current music
industry trends with UK producer Greg Haver (right) at a
public lecture held in April.
Classical Performance
The classical music performance voice students started the
year off with a focus on vocal health. Local Speech Language
Therapist, Vanessa Jerome, who has a special interest in the
performing voice, gave a lecture on how to care for and look
after one’s voice, especially in the winter. The following week,
voice physiotherapist, Peter Chum gave a presentation on
the care of the voice from a performing arts medicine point
of view. Vanessa was present at this, and it was good to have
both professionals present and speaking the same ‘language’
while giving the same advice. Peter then worked with
selected students on a ‘one to one’ basis. These were students
who had been selected by their teachers as singers who could
benefit from some vocal physiotherapy. Peter Chum’s visits
to Dunedin are now going to occur regularly and students
can book appointments if they feel they may benefit from
further sessions with him. It was good to have some of the
contemporary voice students join us for these two sessions.
At the end of March, we were delighted to host a visit
from distinguished Australian soprano, Rosamund Illing.
Rosamund gave an excellent and informative masterclass
and presented a wonderful recital of songs by Massenet
accompanied by Terence Dennis.
David working with first
year violin student Lisa
Kuepper on aligning and
balancing her posture, as
Elayna Huang looks on.
Bella Hristova Masterclass
Performance violin
students Sherry
Lee, Nicholas Pittar,
Matthew Scadden
and Karla Norton,
who are also
performers with the
Southern Sinfonia,
were participants in
a masterclass with
Sinfonia soloist Bella
Hristova on 29th
May in Marama
Hall. Bella worked with enthusiasm and positivity with the
violinists on aspects of technique and interpretation.
Tina Ramnarine
In April, the Department hosted
Professor Tina Ramnarine from
Royal Holloway, University of
London, as a William Evans
Visiting Fellow. Professor
Ramnarine brought to the
Music Department a wealth of
knowledge about contemporary
music research and teaching
practices. She gave public
seminars in collaboration
Professor Tina Ramnarine
with other University
programmes and research centres, she presented guest
lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and
Photos by Pieter Du Plessis.
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Greg Haver
4
Interview with Dan Milosavljevic
Depar tm en t of M u s ic N ews letter
Dan Milosavljevic was born and grew up in and around
Balclutha, South Otago. Having been a Highland bagpiper
since the age of 8, by the time he reached his final year at
South Otago High School, he had claimed the New Zealand
Under 21 Solo Piping Championship. Music studies had
carried him through high school, and so he decided to
continue to university in order to study music. In 2003, he
commenced his studies at the University of Otago, being
accepted as a resident at Hayward College in his first year.
Dan admits that academic success did not come easily in
the early stages of his university studies and he dabbled
in a number of disciplines, including physics, classics,
media studies and anthropology. In 2006, Dan considered
withdrawing from university, however, following some ‘soul
searching’ and after much encouragement from staff at the
Department of Music, he changed his studies to a Bachelor
of Music, majoring in composition and ethnomusicology.
Thereafter, he found his motivation for study had been
reinvigorated. That year, he was awarded a merit prize for
original composition in the Lilburn Competition, and he
graduated with a Bachelor of Music later in 2006.
In 2007, Dan enrolled in a Post Graduate Diploma in Music
in composition and ethnomusicology, under the supervision
of Associate Professor Anthony Ritchie and Dr Dan
Bendrups (respectively). Following successful completion
of this, he enrolled in a Master of Arts degree in 2008 in
ethnomusicology under Dr Dan Bendrups’ supervision. That
year, he also moved to Christchurch to perform keyboard in
a contemporary rock band and to undertake commissioned
composition work.
Dan returned to Dunedin in 2009 to complete his Master
of Arts degree. Upon doing so, he was encouraged by Dr
Dan Bendrups and Professor Henry Johnson to apply for
a doctoral scholarship. He applied, but did not consider
himself qualified for a scholarship. To his surprise, at the
end of 2009 Dan was awarded the Bamforth Postgraduate
Scholarship for his doctoral research proposal regarding
Highland bagpiping in New Zealand. He began doctoral
studies in June 2010 after finishing existing research
employment. Later that year, he applied for, and was
awarded, the Elman Poole Residential Fellowship at Knox
College, allowing him to reside in the college’s postgraduate
wing for two years and paying a sizeable portion of his
accommodation costs. He began his residence there in 2011.
This award also included a travel stipend, which he used in
order to conduct fieldwork in the United Kingdom and the
United States.
His studies nearing completion by the end of 2012, Dan
left Knox College after his fellowship expired and focused
on the completion of his thesis for examination. After
another excursion overseas, Dan submitted his thesis for
examination in December 2013. Prior to graduation he
was awarded a Postgraduate Publishing Bursary by the
University of Otago. He graduated with a doctorate of
philosophy on 17 May this year.
During Dan’s time at the University of Otago, he has been
a student, tutor, demonstrator, marker, and lecturer in a
number of music papers; a panel member in the review of
the Department of Music and Theatre Studies Programme;
a research assistant for a variety of projects; the ‘Glam Piper’
alongside our very own Dr Glam; and a piper for official
university events and functions.
Dan is currently completing employment responsibilities,
preparing publications and relaxing while he considers his
options following graduation.
“When I first came to Otago, I wanted to bring across
my performance abilities in Highland piping. I figured
‘I can study piping at high school, so surely I can do it at
university – especially the University of Otago’. I discovered
this was not the case. Instead, I relied on my training in
piano performance and theory of music in order to meet
the demands of tertiary study in music. Since then, the
departmental curriculum has undergone a number of
changes and study options are much more varied and
diverse. I’m excited that Highland piping is now offered as
a performance option at the University of Otago and that
there are lucrative scholarships available too. I think the best
thing is, you don’t have to be a music major to qualify. You
know, I was playing pipes all through my time studying.
If I could’ve got credits and funding towards my studies
for piping back then, I would’ve applied in a flash. There’s
world-class tuition, great learning resources and wellgrounded performance options available. If I was a piper
looking to study at tertiary level, Otago would definitely be
on my radar.”
“I came to Otago without knowing what I wanted to do for
a career… I’m sure if you’d asked me when I first arrived if
I’d be where I am today, I would’ve scoffed ‘cos I wouldn’t
have even considered it to be possible. Without a doubt,
if it weren’t for the support of the staff at the Department
of Music and the availability of resources and facilities, I
wouldn’t have even considered this career as an option. I am
extremely grateful for the quality education, supervision,
support, and friendship I received during my time there. It’s
an exciting place to study music and there are many great
features of the University of Otago, Department of Music that
make it unique and distinctive. I highly recommend anyone
interested with an interest in music to consider study at the
Department of Music… Get in touch with them today.”
Staff Snippets
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Graeme Downes
Flying Nun Records re-issued the Dunedin
Double EP for World Record Store Day in April
this year (recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases
[scroll to the bottom]). For younger readers,
an EP was a twelve-inch vinyl record played
at 45rpm rather than the 33rpm of an LP. This
was originally recorded and released in 1982.
It features four Dunedin bands, The Chills
(still active, and for whom Dr Oli Wilson is the
current keyboard player), Sneaky Feelings, The
Stones and The Verlaines (Graeme Downes’
band that remains active and which is currently
working on its tenth studio album). Graeme
was, as the picture shows, twenty at the time,
and an undergraduate at Otago. The EP was
recorded on Chris Knox’s infamous four-track
tape machine in about three hours in a flat in
Barbados Street, Christchurch. The artwork was
entirely DIY. Local music shines during NZ Music Month
During May, NZ Music Month, the Department staged
three concerts that celebrated local music. On May 7th,
visiting Euphonium player Byron Newton played works
by staff members Peter Adams and Associate Professor
Anthony Ritchie, along with music by Chris Cree Brown
(with electronics accompanying) and Ken Young. Byron is a
virtuoso player based in Wellington, and is due to release a
CD that includes Anthony’s Triptych. It was also a pleasure
to hear Rachel Swindells accompanying Byron on piano.
Rachel completed her PhD here a few years ago, and has
now established her own music company in Wellington.
Mozart fellows were to the fore in the second NZ music
concert on May 14th. Current Mozart Fellow, Jeremy
Mayall presented two compositions: Flow for electronics,
and Tracking Forward for viola and backing track, featuring
alumnus Alex Vaatstra on viola. Tessa Petersen and John van
Buskirk premiered a lively Sonatina by Robbie Ellis, Mozart
fellow in 2012. Technically challenging and diverse, this
will prove a fine addition to the Belle Alliance repertoire.
Kerian Varaine’s throught-provoking piece for two flutes
entitled Traffic and Pipes was also premiered by Feby Idrus
and Nichola Glenn Harris. Corwin Newall provided an
entertaining and brilliant conclusion with his song I Do,
written initially for his wedding earlier this year.
The third NZ music concert was a solo recital by harpist
Helen Webby. She played items from her recently released
album Pluck, produced by John Egenes. A richly varied
lineup of compositions included works by staff members
Graeme Downes – his Introduction and Scherzo – and
Anthony Ritchie – his Angels Flow. There were also works by
former Mozart fellows Chris Adams and Ross Carey.
Photo courtesy of Andy Paparazzi.
Mozart Fellow 2014 – Jeremy Mayall
Doctoral candidate and composer,
Jeremy Mayall, was a recipient of
the University of Waikato’s Step
Higher Awards and will be going to
Nepal at the end of the year along
with three other high achieving
student recipients.
New Zealand citizens
The students are all Sir Edmund
Hillary Scholars – students who excel
academically as well as in sport or in
the creative or performing arts and
who show strength in leadership.
The announcement of this year’s
Mozart Fellow Jeremy Mayall (far left) collaborating with Step Higher Awards coincides with
Oli Wilson (far right), and Music Industry guest-lecturer the anniversary of Sir Edmund
Tim Couch (drums).
Hillary’s conquering of Mount
Everest on May 29th. University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford says
the chosen students have met the criteria of excellence in their academic work, leadership
and their specialist field. “But more than that, they have also have expressed a desire to share
their skills and experiences with their community and contribute to their communities in
many positive ways. They are also required to contribute to the Himalayan Trust.”
Mozart Fellow Jeremy Mayall recently teamed up with lecturer Dr Oli Wilson’s band
experimental dub/electronica band, Geysers, at ReFuel and is mixing Subject2Change’s
third album, Artiste.
John Egenes and Rob Burns were
among a group of residents who were
sworn in as New Zealand citizens at an
official ceremony at the Dunedin Town
Hall in June. Congratulations!
Rob Burns
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Terence Dennis
In May and early June, Professor Terence Dennis partnered
the soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa once again for an
extensive recital tour of the main cities of Australia, and five
selected New Zealand centres. This milestone 70th Birthday
Gala Recital Tour was an historic occasion for music lovers,
with concerts sold out across Australia from as far as Perth
to the tour’s Grand Finale in the Sydney Opera House. To
date, Terence has presented twenty-four sell-out recitals with
Dame Kiri in Australia since 2010, and the Sydney Opera
House concert was their fourth in Sydney, a fitting climax to
the Australian part of the gala Tour. Similarly, the Auckland
concert at the Aotea Centre was sold out and was afforded
three standing ovations.
Associate Professor Rob Burns met with actor, television
presenter and comedian, Billy Connolly after Connolly’s
performance at Dunedin Town Hall in May. Burns worked
on several television shows and live performances with
Connolly during the 1970s and 1980s and the pair talked
about their past careers and mutual friends in the United
Kingdom. Burns’ main purpose for talking to Connolly,
however, was to enlist his assistance in a new project Burns
is undertaking concerning possible effects on perceptions
of traditional music in the United Kingdom should
Scotland opt for devolution in the forthcoming referendum.
Connolly, a prominent figure in public awareness of Scotland
internationally, was at first sceptical as he avoids political
statements, but he agreed to assist once Burns explained the
musical and cultural, rather than political, nature of the study.
Rob presented a paper entitled “Devolving Folk: Selling
England By The Song” (inspired by possible devolution in the
United Kingdom) at the International Association of the Study
of Popular Music (Australia–New Zealand Branch) in Brisbane.
Rob is currently finishing the bass tracks on the latest
Verlaines’ recording and is in the co–production process
for the third Subject2Change album, “Artiste”. He has also
recorded all of the bass parts for an album being produced in
the United Kingdom. The “stems” were sent to Albany Street
studios where the Music Department studio technician,
Stephen Stedman, loaded them into the studio’s Pro Tools
software. Rob commented that ‘his job was much more
complex than mine, I just played bass(!)’.
In May, he played bass in the Taieri Musical Society’s
production of Mamma Mia at the Regent Theatre, Dunedin.
Having worked for Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad
of ABBA in the 1980s, Rob said that it was still fun to play
such well–constructed bass lines. Other members of the
Music Department, who were members of the ensemble
accompanying the musical, included Teaching Fellow, David
Harrison (guitar) and Professional Practice Fellow Robbie
Craigie (drums). Rob was also pleased that MUSI X46
Professional Practice students were integral to the show.
James Butler played second guitar, Sam van Betuw played
keyboards, and Emily Day was part of a very strong chorus
section. Notably, Georgia Baker performed the lead role
of ‘Sophie’ and Theatre Studies student, Andrew Coshan
performed as “Pepper”. The ‘Hero of the Show’ Award must,
however, go to Robbie Craigie. He had slipped on the ice
outside his home and was told that he had sprained his left
arm. He carried on with each night’s performance before
being told, after the show had closed, that he had actually
broken the arm.
Later in 2014, Terence will accompany Dame Kiri for a
recital in Japan, outside the famous temples of Nara, and will
be filmed by Japanese television. Also, he is the pianist for
four days of masterclasses with her in Halle (the birthplace
of Handel), Germany as part of an international film
documentary on Dame Kiri’s career.
Terence is once again the official pianist for the 2014 Lexus
NZ Song Quest final, to be held in the Auckland Town Hall,
and pianist for the Lexus Winners Recital and national
masterclasses.
He is the adjudicator for the National Piano Competition
at Kerikeri, the country’s leading extended international
piano contest, and also for the National Piano Concerto
Competition held in Christchurch in December.
Tessa Petersen
Tessa Petersen, was awarded a grant of $6,000 by Creative
New Zealand in December of 2013 to commission a new
work for violin and piano by former Mozart Fellow, Robbie
Ellis. Her duo “La Belle Alliance” with John Van Buskirk
will present this work, “Sonatina for Violin and Piano” to
audiences around the country in their June and July 2014
tour for Chamber Music New Zealand, together with soprano
Rebecca Ryan. The work was premiered during a Marama
Hall lunchtime concert in May, as part of NZ Music Month.
Other works included in the tour are Anthony Ritchie’s
“Meditation” (also commissioned by La Belle Alliance
in 2008), Ritchie’s “Thoughts from an Inner Garden” for
soprano, piano and violin, the great Schubert duo, and songs
by Schubert and Strauss.
As well as taking part in the tour, Tessa will be an
adjudicator for the National Chamber Music competition.
This year, Tessa is also involved in recording works for a new
CD of father and son Ritchie works organised by Anthony
Ritchie. So far, she has recorded the recent work for violin
and organ that Anthony wrote for her European tour in 2012
with David Burchell in St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral, as
well as some early Ritchie duos for two violins with Justine
Cormack of the NZ Trio. Later this year, Tessa, Rebecca and
John will record the “Thoughts from an Inner Garden”.
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Peter Adams
Peter Adams has had a busy start to the year with a full
schedule of conducting activities. He has found himself
something of a specialist in working with young people:
since 2012 he has been the musical director of the National
Youth Brass Band and this year he was appointed musical
director of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony
Orchestra. His year started, as it always does, with the
Waitaki Summer Music Camp in early January in Oamaru.
Sixty amateur musicians from all walks of life coming
together as an orchestra rehearsing and performing major
repertoire by Tchaikovsky and Schumann with NZSO
tutors, and with Peter conducting. In late January, he took
the National Youth Band for a rehearsal camp in Waikanae
and then on a concert tour of the lower North Island. In
April, he took Dunedin Brass Band St Kilda Brass (which
has a strong Otago student presence) to the Otago and
Southland Contest in Roxburgh where the band won two
out of three events. May saw the NZSSSO rehearsal week
and two concerts in Christchurch performing the Gershwin
Piano Concerto in F with rising star Han Sol Jeong and
Dvorak’s 8th Symphony. Peter has the National Brass Band
contest in July and a Dunedin Youth Orchestra concert
in September to look forward to before embarking on a
similarly busy programme in 2015, where January also
includes directing the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s
Summer Music Programme for talented younger players. If
you are interested in learning the basics of conducting, Peter
and graduate Holly Mathieson will be running the MUSI259
Practical Conducting paper in Summer School 2015.
Heleen Du Plessis
universal value and importance only if the new tones and
new colours it contributes to world art are not mere local
colour” (Paul Boekooi, Beeld, 23 April 2014) or beeld.com/
vermaak/2014-04-23-eg-plaaslik-verrykend-universeel
Cello for Africa, released by Ode records in 2013 was one of
five CDs nominated by the Violoncello Foundation in New
York, USA, for the international Listener’s Choice Awards. A
quote from judges notes: “This album embodies the highest
standard of artistry and a very genuine attempt to build a
meaningful cross-cultural dialogue” violoncellofoundation.
org/secondlistenerschoiceaward.html. During the eleven
days of the Public Voting Round of the 2nd annual Listeners’
Choice Award, the five nominees gained exposure to fiftyfive countries on five continents. Radio stations in South
Africa, New Zealand, Greece and Germany have broadcast
the CD. In a review published in the national newspaper
of South Africa, the Beeld, it is acclaimed as “uniquely
indigenous”, “enriching and universal” and “accessible”. Its
contribution is described as “enormous” and is compared
to the view of Paul Henry Lang that “in the domain of arts
and letters only qualitative additions represent value, and
from this point of view a ‘national’ literature or music carries
Du Plessis’ playing is furthermore commended for the wide
range of dynamic and colour spectrums, soulful, lyrical playing,
charged with passion and ambiance. (Beeld, 23 April 2014).
In December 2013, Heleen performed at the memorial
service of Nelson Mandela at the St Paul’s Cathedral in
Dunedin playing her own variations on the theme of Nkosi
sikelel’ iAfrica. It was a significant occasion as she also has
also been honoured to play at the United Nations at the
celebration of Mandela and FW de Klerk receiving the Nobel
Prize in 1993 in Geneva.
Two other performances this year included the Southern
Sinfonia International series concerts as principal cellist
in “We Will Remember Them”, and “Bell Hristova” in the
première of Anthony Ritchie’s violin concerto.
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Anthony Ritchie
Two premieres of compositions by Anthony Ritchie
Associate Professor Anthony Ritchie has had two significant
premieres of compositions since the start of the year. On
February 22nd, the third anniversary of the devastating
Christchurch earthquake, his Symphony No.4 “Stations” was
played by The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. It takes the
earthquake as a starting point, and explores human suffering
using a text by poet Bernadette Hall (a former Otago Burns
fellow). The symphony featured soprano Jenny Wollerman,
and was recorded for an Atoll CD. The performance can be
viewed at: /sounz.org.nz/works/show/21787
Anthony’s new Violin Concerto was premiered in May by
Bulgarian soloist Bella Hristova and the Southern Sinfonia,
with alumnus Tecwyn Evans conducting. The concerto was
composed specifically for Bella, and has been recorded for
Radio NZ Concert. The Centre for NZ Music has also made a
film of the performance, for inclusion on their website.
Photo by Pieter Du Plessis.
BBC Symphony Orchestra recording
Anthony’s A Bugle Will Do for orchestra is being recorded by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pascal Rophe,
for BBC 3. The recording took place June 23rd, and will be broadcast in 2015 and 2016, as part of a focus on music from the
Southern Hemisphere. A Belgium premiere
The Belgium choir Aquarius is premiering a new twenty minute work by Anthony entitled Salaam on September 14th, in
Ghent, on “Open Monuments day”. In the same concert, they will be singing Anthony’s Widow’s Songs along with British
composer Ed Hugh’s A Buried Flame in a Burning Heart. The theme of the concert is “Songs of Imprisonment”. Anthony will be
travelling to Belgium for the occasion.
A new opera: premiere in the arts festival
Anthony’s new opera “This Other Eden” is to be staged by Opera Otago in Arts festival Dunedin, October 10th to 16th this
year. The opera is based around a classic New Zealand story set in the 1820s in the Bay of Islands, featuring the missionaries
Thomas and Jane Kendall, and their dealings with the Ngā Puhi chief Hongi Hika. It is a story of ambition, lust and power, to
a powerful script by Michelanne Forster. The production will feature a number of Music Department students and staff, the
orchestra will be led by Executant Lecturer in Violin, Tessa Petersen, and the musical director is alumnus Tecwyn Evans. If you
would like to contribute towards this production visit the website Boosted: boosted.org.nz/
Henry Johnson
Several of Henry’s refereed journal articles have been
published recently, including “Hybridity in the Okinawan
Guitarscape” (Ethnomusicology Forum), “Sark and
Brecqhou” (Shima: The International Journal of Research into
Island Cultures), “The iGamelan as a Tool for Music-culture
Sustainability”, co-authored with Shelley Brunt (Musicology
Australia), “Neo-Traditional Ensemble Drumming in the
Amami Islands”, co-authored with Kuwahara Sueo (South
Pacific Studies), “Le phénomène de revitalisation culturelle
à Jersey”, co-authored with Christian Fleury (Annales de
Géographie), and “Locating Shima in Island Drumming”,
co-authored with Kuwahara Sueo (Shima: The International
Journal of Research into Island Cultures). In December 2013,
Henry was invited to present his research on language and
song sustainability at a colloquium at Macquarie University,
and in May this year at the New Zealand School of Music.
His other recent conference presentations have been at the
International Association of the Study of Popular Music
(Australia–New Zealand Branch) in Brisbane, and at the
symposium on Music, Media and Politics hosted by the
Department of Media, Film and Communication, University
of Otago. In 2014, two of Henry’s PhD students, Alison
Booth and Daniel Milosavljevic successfully completed
their doctoral theses. New doctoral students under his
guidance this year are Paul McMillan, who is working on
“indie” guitar pop in Dunedin and Auckland, and Agastya
iGamelan interface, see hedc.otago.ac.nz/iGamelan/
Rama Listya, who is researching the sustainability of gong
music on the island of Rote, Indonesia. In February, Henry
undertook field research in Japan as part of a University
of Otago Research Grant investigating Japanese drum
traditions. Henry’s music performances with O-Taiko this
year have included playing at the Forsyth Barr Stadium for
the Regal Rugby Fun Day and for the OUSA Toga Party, and
for the opening of the Summer School.
Student Highlights
but as his mentor, she told him to keep building and sing a
lighter repertoire and allow techniques to settle. She added
that it is all about breath. She also mentioned that she spent
twenty-five years just learning to breath properly. Breathing
out is just as important as breathing in. Youth Week 2014 Award
Congratulations go to Lani Alo, a
contemporary vocal student, who
was the recipient of a Youth Week
2014 Award in the Change Maker
category in May.
The three-hour masterclass allowed all five of us to sing
through our arias and enabled each of us to have half
an hour on stage working with the Dame herself. It was
intimidating at first, but nerves ran away when you are
creating beautiful music. Our Department Coordinator of
Classical Music Performance, Professor Terence Dennis
was the official accompanist of the masterclass as well as on
Dame Kiri’s 70th Birthday Gala Tour. A Change Maker Award is awarded
to a young person who, through
embracing diversity, has created
change in their community.
Lani has made a huge impact in
the area of performing arts and youth mentoring. He is
currently working on Project K (an arts programme) as a
team leader, where he is in charge of developing a resource
that creates a series of narratives.
After the masterclass, we had a private conversation
and took a couple of photos backstage. Overall, it was
an inspiring three hours with her. She can be scary, but
encouraging at the same time. The way she carried herself
and how she spoke intimidated many of us. It was not an
easy task working with one of the greatest living opera
singers, but it was definitely a very rewarding one. Lani has also been involved in New Zealand and Australia
with the White Ribbon campaign and the Dunedin Fringe
Festival.
A special thank you to the Department of Music for funding
this trip and to the classical music performance staff for
giving me the opportunity to leaarn from a great. It was an
invaluable experience and one that will stick with me for my
lifetime”. Kia Ora!
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Masterclass
Clinton Fung was selected to participate in a masterclass
with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, which Clinton describes as
definitely a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
“It was undoubtedly a daunting and nerve tingling task. The
masterclass was held at the Museum Theatre Gallery, Napier
on 4th June 2014. Five university music students were
chosen to work with the great soprano. The selected singers
were, Christina Vehikite, Waikato University, Madison
Nonoa, Auckland, Christie Cook, Auckland Opera Studio
(and Otago graduate), Daniela-Rosa Cepeda from Victoria
University and myself, representing Otago. In the masterclass, she taught all of us (the participants) a
very valuable lesson in professionalism, repertoire selection,
and the importance of breathing. Professionalism, as in
being on time, having a hard copy of your music with
you at all times, and reacting to situations on stage. As for
repertoire selection, the highly rated soprano said that
students should be given songs not only suited for the voice,
but also songs to develop the voice. She used Philip Rhodes
as an example, saying that he can easily be singing Wagner,
From left, Christie Cook, Madison Nonoa, Dame Kiri Te
Kanawa, Christina Vehikite, Daniela-Rosa Cepeda and
Clinton Fung.
Piping and Drumming
Scholarships
Dunedin’s Scottish heritage and the University’s commitment
to provide excellence in music performance combine to offer
an exceptional context to study Scottish piping and drumming.
Students of Scottish piping and drumming are now able to study
performance at the University of Otago. Students take individual
lessons while completing a degree learning under some of New
Zealand’s outstanding players.
Two scholarships in piping and drumming have been created: the
Alexander Leith Memorial Scholarship; and the David A. Grant
Memorial Scholarship. Each scholarship has been created to assist
students who have demonstrated an outstanding ability in solo
performance in either Scottish piping or drumming and an allround academic ability to attend the University of Otago.
These scholarships are now open to all students intending to study
full-time at the University of Otago and intending to take a music
performance paper in Scottish piping or drumming.
Performing Arts
Further details and how to apply:
at Otago
UOO3118
http://www.otago.ac.nz/music/study/scholarships/
YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD
Events
O-Taiko
Dunedin’s Japanese drum group, O-Taiko, has given a number of public performances this year. Under the
leadership of Sabrina Goh, the group has performed at the Forsyth Barr Stadium on two occasions: Regal Rugby
Fun Day, and the OUSA Toga Party. The group has also given a recital and workshop in Allen Hall as part of
a Division of Humanities Performing Arts Grant, and for the opening of the Summer School. Other recent
performances have included Relay for Life and the Kiwiana Christmas celebration. In April, the group hosted
Maehara Gen, captain of the Kodama taiko team at the International Pacific College.
O-Taiko performing at the Regal Rugby Fun Day (photo courtesy of Balazs and Noi Kiglics).
OKE
The Otago Koto Ensemble (OKE) is currently
divided into three groups who meet weekly under the
guidance of Leo Yang. Students are learning a range
of studies, as well as an arrangement of the folk song,
Sakura Sakura (“Cherry Blossoms”), and Professor
Henry Johnson is teaching students the classical piece,
Rokudan no Shirabe (“Investigation in Six Sections”).
Where music matters
Performance
Studies at Otago
Piano, Voice, Violin, Cello
Brass and Woodwind
Organ & other instruments
Leo Yang (right) leading OKE during a rehearsal.
We welcome your enquiries:
www.otago.ac.nz/music
UOO2256
Depar tm en t of M u s ic N ews letter
10
Cellists of Otago
The performance Dancing with Twelve Cellos took place
in the Sargood Centre on the 18th of May, with an
overwhelming turnout from a supportive and enthusiastic,
appreciative audience.
The Latin-flavoured programme included dances and tangos
by composers like Handel, Piazzolla, Stephenson, McLean
Kibbe and Borodin. Violinists and violists from the University
and Southern Sinfonia joined the cellists in in a “delightfully
sinuous and flirtatious work” (Marian Poole, Otago Daily
Times, 19th May 2014) under the direction of Tessa Petersen.
A favourable review (Marian Poole, Otago Daily Times, 19th
May 2014) commended the group (which grew in level,
range of repertoire and numbers from having one Otago
student in 2010 to having seven at present), for its “Rich
sonority and sinuous rhythms” which “warmed the capacity
house” and “produced an intriguing and appealing sound
which has quickly and worthily gained wide recognition”.
Du Plessis has started a fund and project with Cellists of
Otago to raise money for the development of cello tuition in
Dunedin.
Dep ar tm en t of M u s ic N ews letter
“Cellists of Otago” is a Dunedin based cello choir comprising
of a combination of Southern Sinfonia cellists, University
of Otago students, local cellists and high school pupils,
under the direction of Executant Lecturer of Cello from
the University of Otago, Heleen du Plessis. The ensemble
provides a platform where institutions and community
can interact, bringing together players of all levels and
contributing knowledge to a wider audience and society. It
has the growth, education and development of musicians,
especially in Dunedin and Otago, at heart and therefore
presents a varied programme ranging from baroque to
contemporary. Programmes include guest artists playing
different instruments, to provide a showcase for rising talent.
11
News
The Theatre Studies Programme
Emily Duncan, PhD candidate in Theatre Studies, was awarded the Geoffrey Milne Bursary to
attend the 2014 ADSA conference in Wellington in late June. At the conference she presented
a portion of her doctoral research entitled “Aesthetics of Illness: Creating a Theatrical History
of a TB Sanatorium in the Maniototo”. Emily would like to extend her gratification to her
supervisor, Dr. Jonathan W. Marshall, for nominating her for this award.
MUNTED – Real Stories from the Heart of a Disaster
MUNTED is an engaging, amusing, thought-provoking play edited together from interviews
conducted a month after the earthquake with TV reporters and members of the Christchurch
community. Jackie Shaw, Victoria Abbott and Frith Horan embody 15 people on stage within
an hour show. The words are 100% verbatim. The stories are real. Stories of loss, peppered with
humour and perspective on one of New Zealand’s “worst national tragedies” are told in direct
speech. MUNTED finds laughter amongst grief and a strengthened community in the heart of
the shaken city.
MUNTED magnifies the strength of the human spirit and shows how a community can unite
in the wake of such a tragedy. It is a show that gives a voice to a community that you wouldn’t
hear otherwise. This is a piece of theatre that shows what it is to come together.
It is for YOU, YOUR family and YOUR community.
“SHARP, TIGHT,WITTY & POWERFUL” – Stephen Austin, theatreview.org.nz
Graduates from the Theatre Studies Programme, Jackie Shaw and Victoria Abbott, were
approached by a producer in Los Angeles last year who wanted to show people a piece of New
Zealand, and as it is a rather earthquake prone place, their show MUNTED seemed to fit.
They are performing at the Stella Adler Academy and Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard from
3rd to 27th July, and when they return they will carry out a three-week national New Zealand
tour in August from Kaitaia to Gore, thanks to the Arts on Tour Trust.
For more information, head to the newly updated website barehuntcollective.com
May Graduation 2014
New Graduates
MusB
Georgia Angus
Rion Corlet
Molly Devine
Julia Faalili Fruean
Joseph Hoskin
Simon Mace
Georgia McCombe
Corwin Newall
Theresa Parker
Joshua Romero (In absentia)
Caroline Stevens
Jessica Thompson
Kurt Verkuylen
Dylan Walker
Teresa Wojcik
Peter Yoo
MusB (Hons)
Fionn Murphy
Grace Park
BA– Music Major
Susannah Bull
Ardalena Sipeni
MMus
Frank Gibson (In absentia)
PhD
Dan Milosavljevic