NZ Composer Sessions 2023
Ngā Huihuinga Hāpai i ngā Kaitito o Aotearoa
in partnership with NZSO, SOUNZ and RNZ Concert
The NZ Composer Sessions | Ngā Huihuinga Hāpai i ngā Kaitito o Aotearoa is a collaboration
between the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music and RNZ
Concert. The aim is to create high quality new NZ orchestral recordings. The project will also
deliver a concert for invited guests to promote the works to a range of orchestras and
broadcasters. Following the concert and the final editing process, the recordings will be available
as audio on SOUNZ’s and RNZ Concert’s websites. Please note that we are unable to confirm a
date for completion/publication of these recordings.
Call for Scores
SOUNZ is calling for orchestral scores from SOUNZ composers (max two/composer). The
adjudication panel, administered by SOUNZ, consists of representatives from NZSO, RNZ Concert
and CANZ, who each bring the perspective of their organisations. The panel are asked to
recommend a selection of works that reflects the diversity of musical styles/voices in New Zealand
composition.
The 2023 recordings will take place over four days (16-19 Aug) at the Michael
Fowler Centre in Wellington. Notes and Comments
• The composer must be a SOUNZ composer. If you are not yet a SOUNZ composer, contact
[email address].
• The work may have been performed before. If there is an existing commercial recording of the
work, it is less likely to be selected. If a commercial recording of the work is planned for the
2023-24 season, the work will not be eligible.
• The standard instrument configuration of the NZSO is: 3333; 4331; timpani; 3 percussion;
harp; strings; (including standard auxiliaries - piccolo/alto flute/bass flute/cor anglais/Eb
clarinet/bass clarinet/contrabassoon/flugal horn/piccolo trumpet/cornet).
NB orchestral piano
is not part of the standard NZSO configuration.
• The NZSO will approve the use of extra musicians (including orchestral piano) and contract
them accordingly.
The composer will reimburse the NZSO for all costs associated with
extra musician hire, including travel and accommodation.
• The NZSO will approve appropriate soloists. Composers will be responsible for contracting
and liaising with soloists.
Please indicate your preferred and alternate soloist choice on
the application form.
• SOUNZ will assist with travel costs within NZ for composers who live outside of Wellington.
• The panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Application Requirements
• Complete score in PDF format
• Recording, if available, in digital format
• Completed application form
• Programme note and short biography of up to 200 words each in word document
• Many composers choose to supply a software rendered recording where there is no currently
existing live recording. If you choose to do this, we highly recommend using a sound library
such as NotePerformer in order to provide a higher quality rendering of the audio.
Application deadline: 9am Monday 16 January 2023
NZ Composer Sessions 2023
Ngā Huihuinga Hāpai i ngā Kaitito o Aotearoa
in partnership with NZSO, SOUNZ and RNZ Concert
Application Form
Your completed application must reach [email address] by 9am Monday 16 January
2023. Late applications will not be accepted. Selected Works
• All composers who submit scores will be advised of the panel’s selections by
mid-March
2023.
• Composers of the chosen works must supply PDFs of the full score and all the parts to
the NZSO, supplied in compliance with the NZSO’s Style Sheet, by
9am Tuesday 11 April
2023.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone number: _________________________________________________________________
Email:
______________________________________________________________________________
Title of work: ___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Year of composition: _____________________________________________________________
Duration (
please be as accurate with this as possible): _______________________________
Instrumentation required for this work: _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Previous performance(s) or recordings(s): ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Other specific comments about the work
(including non-standard orchestral instrument
configuration, and/or preferred and alternate soloist choice if applicable):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
By signing this form, you:
• Agree to be available to attend the four days of the sessions in Wellington (16-19 Aug 2023)
• Give permission to SOUNZ to print the score for the panel members and conductors.
• Agree to deliver the full score and parts to the NZSO in PDF format, supplied in compliance
with the NZSO’s Style Sheet, no later than
9am Tuesday 11 April 2023.
• Grant to NZSO the right to:
o create paper copies of the full score and parts
o retain these scores and parts in its music library in perpetuity.
• Agree to lodge a copy of the score and parts with SOUNZ and give non-exclusive hire rights to
SOUNZ to allow the work to be performed by other orchestras.
• Acknowledge that RNZ will own the rights in this recording of the work (including any grand
rights) and will have permission to broadcast and stream the recording from RNZ-branded
channels in perpetuity. RNZ may license the non-commercial use of the audio recording to
other partners in this project (e.g. for use in video stories about the composer, work or project).
• Acknowledge that SOUNZ will own the rights in the video recording of the work and will have
permission to broadcast and stream the video recording from SOUNZ-branded channels in
perpetuity. SOUNZ may license the non-commercial use of the video recording to other
partners in this project (e.g. for use in video stories about the composer, work or project).
• Agree to be available for written, audio or video interviews to be used as resources on the
partnering organisations’ branded media outlets including broadcast and online.
• Understand that photographs and film footage featuring you or your work can be made and
used by the partnering organisations for documentary, archival, promotional and publicity
purposes.
• Acknowledge that further use of the recording will be discussed and agreed by all parties on a
case-by-case basis. All use will be appropriately credited, and completed in a way that
respects the integrity of the work of all parties.
• Acknowledge the extra musicians’ costs (call time hire, accommodation, travel) are my (the
composer’s) responsibility, and I will reimburse the NZSO these costs.
• Communication from the NZSO must be prioritised to ensure comprehensive planning for
extra musicians, and consistent score and parts in accordance with the NZSO Library’s Style
Sheet.
I have emailed my application to [email address] including
o PDF score
o Link to recording
o Application form
o Programme note
o Biography
Signed___________________________________________________ Date________________
