Our next concert, featuring music by Debussy, Sciarrino, Stravinsky, Ross Harris, Jason Post, Tabea Squire, Anton Killin, and more...
La Harpe de Mélodie
And our following concert, curated by Juliet Palmer, the current Creative New Zealand/Jack C. Richards Composer-in-Residence at the NZSM, features music by Juliet Palmer, James Rolfe, Annea Lockwood, Meredith Monk, Jack Body, and more...
Long Shadows
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Long Shadows is a musical snapshot of NZSM Composer-in-Residence Juliet Palmer's work, including pivotal repertoire from her mentors. Palmer's lyrical Starving Poetry is dedicated to Chinese poet Gu Cheng, while the clarinet trio Rush pares down funk to its angular core. Maverick New York vocalist Meredith Monk's Facing North finds inspiration in the austere beauty of the Arctic and the intimacy of Inuit throat-singing. New Zealand's avant-garde pioneer Annea Lockwood is represented by the contemplative Spirit Catchers, a rarely heard vocal quartet from 1974. Recasting the mediaeval motet for the 21st century, Canadian composer James Rolfe offers the gritty insistence ofViolin Motel.
Short Bio
Based in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, SMP Ensemble was founded in October 2008 by its initial musical director, Andrzej Nowicki.
SMP Ensemble comprises an ever-changing line-up of performers and contributors, and since May 2011, has been co-directed by five of its core members: Anton Killin, Karlo Margetic, Carol Shortis, Charley Davenport and Justus Rozemond.
The group produces several concerts per year, including charity projects. Music played includes classical and contemporary chamber music, electroacoustic music, and experimental performances, often with a focus on New Zealand composition. The ensemble mainly comprises recent graduates of Te Koki The New Zealand School of Music, with occasional use of current students, staff, and other guest artists.
SMP Ensemble presents public composer-workshops annually at Te Koki The New Zealand School of Music in Wellington. This year's composer-workshop will be on March 21, 2012 at 3.10pm in the Adam Concert Room.
Highlights for 2010 and 2011
- SMP Ensemble released Podróże / Journeys, their first CD publication, in February 2010. This CD includes works composed especially for SMP Ensemble's concert series in 2009 commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the arrival in New Zealand of the "Pahiatua Children", the Polish refugee children near the end of WWII
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Vistas, a concert in March 2010 with special guest conductor Lucas Vis of The Netherlands (made possible with the assistance of Caprice Arts Trust)
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Two charity concerts during the year in collaboration with ECO, an umbrella group for environmental groups active in New Zealand, and the Victoria University of Wellington Students Association Women's Group, respectively
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Interiors, a two-concert series showcasing newly commissioned works for ensemble and guest musicians Dylan Lardelli (guitar) and Jeremy Hantler (taonga puoro) in February and March 2011
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Family Tree, a benefit concert supporting the Refugee Family Reunification Trust, organised in collaboration with that same trust and the Wellington Refugees As Survivors group
