SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, in collaboration with Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings

In September 2025, Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings will perform together at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

This commission is an opportunity for a composer to create a work of up to 4–5 minutes in duration, featuring the combined forces of Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings. The resulting work will need to have parts at an appropriate level for Arohanui Strings that can be rehearsed easily without the Orchestra Wellington parts.  

Arohanui Strings is a Sistema-inspired music education programme based in Lower Hutt. The selected composer is expected to work closely with the group throughout the rehearsal process, attend at least one rehearsal, and be present at the dress rehearsal and performance on 20 September 2025.

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Nau mai, tono mai! Call for proposals.

We welcome proposals for the commission from Aotearoa New Zealand composers. We encourage all experience levels and backgrounds to apply, and proposals for compositions can include traditional melodies and musical forms.

Applications close at 5.00pm (NZT) on Monday, 3 February 2025. All applications will be forwarded to a panel facilitated by SOUNZ, and the winning proposal will be announced in mid-February 2025.

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Guidelines:

• The composer must have an interest in musical pedagogy and writing for beginner players.
• The work should be no more than 4–5 minutes in length.
• The available instrumentation for Orchestra Wellington is: 2.2.2.2/4.2.3.1/T+2/Hp/cel/str. Please note that the woodwind will not be doubling for this concert.
• Arohanui Strings is a full string orchestra (violin 1 & 2, viola, cello, bass) which follows the Sistema initiative. The actual numbers for each section are unspecified.
• Arohanui Strings parts should be up to grade 4–5 level, with the exception of the double-bass parts, which should be up to grade 3 level.
• The composer must visit and work with Arohanui Strings to establish an appropriate level for the players.
• The composer must be present for at least one rehearsal/workshop with Arohanui Strings, as well as attending the dress rehearsal on the day of the performance.
• The deadline to submit the score and parts is 5.00pm on Monday, 5 May 2025. An Arohanui Strings-only version of the score must also be provided, and the composer must be available to reformat parts upon request if required.
• The performance will be held on 20 September 2025, at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.
• The piece must adhere strictly to the required duration of 4–5 minutes.
• The composer must be a SOUNZ composer. If you are not yet a SOUNZ composer, please contact info@sounz.org.nz.

The composer will receive a commission fee of $2,000 (gross), which will be split into two payments of $1,000 each — the first of which will be paid upon the awarding of the commission, and the final payment of $1,000 will be paid upon successful completion of the commission and delivery of all scores and parts by the due date. If the composer lives outside of Wellington, they will also receive one return airfare to Wellington from within New Zealand to attend a rehearsal/workshop with Arohanui Strings.

NB. There will be no additional reimbursement for travel and/or accommodation expenses.

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Application requirements:

Your submission form must include the following: 

1. Your biography
2. Your CV
3. A proposal for the commission, including an indication of how you intend to create a work which integrates the forces of Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings
4. An outline of how you will work with Arohanui Strings to compose a work which is at an appropriate level for the string orchestra, and which will integrate with Orchestra Wellington

Composers are welcome to contact SOUNZ for further information in relation to this project at info@sounz.org.nz.

1. Biography

2. CV

3. Proposal

Please provide a proposal for the commission, including an indication of how you intend to create a work that integrates the forces of Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings.

You can upload a file, or type/paste your proposal into the box below:

4. Outline

Please provide an outline of how you will work with Arohanui Strings to compose a work which is at an appropriate level for the string orchestra, and which will integrate with Orchestra Wellington.

You can upload a file, or type/paste your proposal into the box below:

5. Other supporting information (optional)

Please provide any other supporting information or media in relation to your proposal (if applicable):

By signing this form, you:

• agree to work with SOUNZ to provide written or video updates on the compositional and rehearsal process which can be used to promote the commission and performance
• agree to take responsibility for the preparations of all scores and parts
• give SOUNZ and a selected recording partner permission to stream the recording of the work on their websites
• give hire rights to SOUNZ for the created work, and will only supply the performance materials to other parties following negotiations with SOUNZ
• will be available for written or video interviews to be used as resources on the SOUNZ website
• understand that photographs and film footage featuring yourself or your work can be used by SOUNZ, and other collaborators, for promotional and publicity purposes.

Proposals must be submitted by 5.00pm (NZT) on Monday, 3 February 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: SOUNZ will personally acknowledge receipt of your proposal. Please e-mail info@sounz.org.nz if you do not receive this acknowledgement within 48 hours.