New Zealand School of Music

New Zealand School of Music / Te Kōkī
Established2006 (2006)
AffiliationVictoria University of Wellington
Head
Address
88 Fairlie Terrace
,
Wellington
,
New Zealand
CampusUrban
Websitewww.wgtn.ac.nz/nzsm

The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī (NZSM) at Victoria University of Wellington is located in Wellington, New Zealand. It provides a tertiary teaching faculty with programmes in classical and jazz performance, music studies, composition, and sonic arts.[1][2] It also provides the only postgraduate degree course in music therapy available in the country, and runs the Wai-te-ata Music Press, which produces CDs and sheet music editions of New Zealand compositions.

History

The school was originally established in 2006 as a joint venture between Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University. The te reo name Te Kōkī was chosen, which refers to the dawn chorus, New Zealand's unique birdsong contributed by many native species such as the tūī and korimako.

The NZSM combined the strengths of the former Conservatorium of Music at Massey, which specialised in jazz performance and commercial music production, and Victoria University's School of Music, which specialised in art music performance, composition, and research. Established as a limited liability company with the two universities as equal shareholders, it was governed by a board of directors and shared buildings on Massey's Wallace Street campus in Mount Cook, and Victoria's School of Music in Kelburn.

Professor Elizabeth Hudson was director of the NZSM from its launch until she stepped down in 2013.[3] On 1 July 2014, the School transitioned to full ownership by Victoria University of Wellington, using the School of Music buildings on its Kelburn campus. Massey University retained and reorganised its former NZSM facilities into its School of Music and Screen Arts / Te Rewa o Puanga, offering courses in commercial and film music production.[4] Euan Murdoch, Chief Executive of Chamber Music New Zealand, was appointed as the new director in 2015.[5]

In 2017, Sally Jane Norman was appointed as director.[6] Professor Kim Cunio, formerly head of the School of Music at the Australian National University, became head of NZSM in 2024.[7]

With a full tertiary programme and full range of degrees, NZSM has strengths in historical research, allowing a representation of scholarly expertise across multiple fields including musicology, opera studies, jazz, ethnomusicology, music and film, baroque and classical performance practice, contemporary performance, music technology, and electronic music.[8]

Faculty and alumni

Notable faculty of the NZSM include New Zealand composer John Psathas, violinist Martin Riseley, and music therapist Daphne Rickson, who completed the first PhD in music therapy in New Zealand through the NZSM.[9] Former faculty members include composers Ross Harris and Kenneth Young, and jazz musician and band leader Rodger Fox.

Notable alumni include composers Gareth Farr and Salina Fisher, members of the Drax Project, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra principal conductor Gemma New, and opera singers Simon O'Neill and Madeleine Pierard.[10]

References

  1. ^ (14 April 2016 to 26 September 2017). Middle C: Classical Music Reviews, . Middle C Archived 29 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. (Wellington, New Zealand).
  2. ^ Bowers, Jack. 28 August 2015. New Zealand School of Music Big Band: Too Cool Archived 29 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. All About Jazz. (Philadelphia, USA).
  3. ^ Taylor, Lindis (29 August 2013). "Elizabeth Hudson steps down as director of the NZSM". Middle C. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  4. ^ "School of Music and Screen Arts – Te Rewa o Puanga". Wellington: Massey University. 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  5. ^ "New Director for Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music appointed". Victoria University of Wellington. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ^ Thomas, Joel (2017). "New Director For New Zealand School of Music". NZ Musician. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ^ Musa, Helen (29 March 2024). "Cunio takes top job at NZ School of Music". Canberra CityNews. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  8. ^ "New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī". NZ Musician. 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  9. ^ "The Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List 2022 – Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  10. ^ Dann, Jennifer (17 January 2017). "Twelve Questions with Madeleine Pierard". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.

41°17′29″S 174°46′01″E / 41.29136°S 174.76693°E / -41.29136; 174.76693

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