Community project with members of the Auckland Harp Orchestra chosen as the 2019 SOUNZ Community Commission.
The winning project for this year’s SOUNZ Community Commission will see composer and harpist Michelle Velvin create a suite of dances for three-part harp ensemble to be performed by the Auckland Harp Orchestra.
The anonymous project donor selected the winning proposal by Velvin, who said:
“My project is to create a new suite of dances for the Auckland Harp Orchestra with live dancers incorporated in the performance. Within the AHO group, there are some talented student dancers, so the idea is to encourage and support these keen dancers and harpists by combining music and dance in a collaborative project.
I am excited about being awarded the commission for this year, especially as there is so much potential to explore within this project. I am really looking forward to creating music with the AHO and the dancers, especially as having another layer of visual movements is an interesting challenge.”
The SOUNZ Community Commission brings together NZ professional composers and community groups to create and perform a new work. It was established in 1999 and has resulted in works for diverse groups such as a community group for young people with learning disabilities, community choirs, experimental sound artists, youth orchestras and children’s theatre.
“We celebrate the musical diversity in our communities with the SOUNZ Community Commission and this year is no different. Engaging communities throughout New Zealand with composers to create and perform a work together is at the heart of this project. We look forward to hearing the new work next year, to be created by Michelle Velvin, with the Auckland Harp Orchestra. Once again, our gratitude goes out to the donor for making this project happen.” said SOUNZ Executive Director Diana Marsh.
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