NZSO Recording Aotearoa
NZSO Recording
The NZSO is committed to the development and celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s compositional talent.
Through the NZSO Recording Aotearoa programme we aim to support composers and creative teams in ambitious commercial ventures:
Do you have an album in development and hope to explore arrangement at symphonic scale?
Do you have a catalogue of work, or a specific project, including symphonic composition that has strong support for release if recorded in studio format?
Within NZSO Recording Aotearoa, we provide a supportive planning environment and enable ambition to become a reality by making all staff player costs incurred ‘in kind’ on approved projects.
NZSO Recording Aotearoa is made possible by our primary stakeholder, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
NZSO Recording Aotearoa aims to
Break down financial and logistical barriers for local artists in recording with a symphonic orchestra for commercial release
Bolster Aotearoa New Zealand’s composing community’s released profile in symphonic format
Widen the experience of working with a full orchestra in session and deepening access to our National Orchestra
Application
To apply for NZSO Recording Aotearoa, please complete the Expression of Interest form and return to: Claire Wackrow, Senior Manager Commercial & Partnerships Programmes claire.wackrow@nzso.co.nz.
NZSO Recording Aotearoa – Expression of Interest form
Claire Cowen - 'Hansel & Gretel'
Claire Cowan is a leading New Zealand composer with diverse credits across concert, film, TV, and theatre. Her accomplishments include seven TV soundtracks, numerous "Best Original Score" awards, composer residencies, and two ballets commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Claire and the NZSO collaborated on 2020's independently released 'Hansel and Gretel.' The album won the 2021 Aotearoa Music Award for Best Classical Album, and it was the first ballet score ever commissioned from a female composer in the history of the Royal NZ Ballet.
The NZSO are an amazing bunch of individuals, both the performers and the behind the scenes team. The quality of the playing is world class and I'm incredibly happy with how the album turned out. I will always be grateful for the NZSO's support of my music which enabled this recording to happen.
Hollie Smith - 'Coming In From The Dark'
Hollie Smith is a New Zealand soul singer-songwriter based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Hollie and The NZSO collaborated on her 2021 album, 'Coming In From The Dark', recording 3 songs: ‘Coming In From The Dark’, ‘Lay Me Down’, and ‘YOU’.
Hollie Smith - 'Coming In From The Dark' featuring the NZSO
The Phoenix Foundation - 'Friend Ship'
Formed in 1997, The Phoenix Foundation is an indie rock band from Wellington, New Zealand. The NZSO collaborated with The Phoenix Foundation on their 2018 album 'Friend Ship', recording two songs at the Michael Fowler Centre: ‘Miserable Meal’ and ‘Transit Of Venus.'
It’s insane that we've got the NZSO on our new album … we're so lucky.
-Samuel Flynn Scott, The Phoenix Foundation
Gareth Farr - 'Gareth Farr / Edward Elgar: Cello Concertos'
Gareth Farr is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. His album ‘Gareth Farr / Edward Elgar: Cello Concertos’ features the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Benjamin Northey, and was released worldwide on the UK label RUBICON.
Contact us
For enquiries and project consultancy, please get in touch:
Claire Wackrow, Senior Manager Commercial & Partnerships Programmes claire.wackrow@nzso.co.nz.