The Royal Irish Academy of Music in conjunction with Auckland University is presenting contemporary music from New Zealand.

The project was mooted by William Dowdall of the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) during a visit to New Zealand last August. He collaborated with Stephen Matthews (Lecturer at Auckland University), who devised a programme featuring the works of New Zealand composers Gareth Farr, John Psathas and John Rimmer.

The support of CMC’s opposite number, our colleagues in SouNZ (the New Zealand contemporary music centre) has been an important part of the partnership.

Preliminary coaching of the New Zealand works took place at the RIAM during December and early January and extensive coaching and a final workshop with Stephen Matthews takes place during the first week of February.

Support from pianist Therese Fahy, Director of Chamber Music at RIAM, was instant and invaluable and her efforts are affording third level students an opportunity to perform modern music from a country that, while very similar in some cultural aspects and size, has a very different traditional culture background.

It is hoped that a similar co-funded exchange project will take place in the future, and already a second collaboration between William Dowdall and Stephen Matthews is taking place. Matthews is writing a piece for solo flute based on the cultures of Ireland and New Zealand, to be performed in Auckland University next August along with works for solo flute by Irish composers.

The concluding workshop on contemporary chamber music from New Zealand takes place on Friday 3 February in the Royal Irish Academy of Music at 4.30pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Posted: 31 January 2006