Trans-Tasman Composer Exchange

The Australian Music Centre and SOUNZ collaborate on the Trans-Tasman composer exchange – a residency scheme lasting between six weeks and two months during which time a composer from one country is hosted by a leading professional performing group in the other. As well as writing a new work, the composer takes part in activities which promote the music of each country's composers, such as seminars, interviews and workshops.

Gareth Farr (NZ)	James Ledger (Aus)	James Gardner (NZ)	Colin Bright (Aus)

In 2003 Gareth Farr was selected as the first Trans Tasman Exchange composer. He spent time with the Sydney-based Song Company, which involved writing the Les Murray Song Cycle and collaborating with Malaysian composers on works involving gamelan.

In 2004, West Australian composer, James Ledger spent several weeks in Christchurch working with the Christchurch Symphony. The work he completed for them, Crossing the Ditch, was premiered by the orchestra on November 25, 2005.

James Gardner was the 2005 Trans-Tasman Exchange composer. He worked with ELISION, Australia's premier new music ensemble, who celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2006. After workshopping his ideas with the ensemble, James has created a work for clarinet, trombone, electric guitar, percussion and live electronics called Substance and Process. This work will be part of a series of pieces called Surveillance for various combinations of instruments, all electronically modified in real time.

The current Trans-Tasman resident is Australian composer Colin Bright who is working with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Colin will visit New Zealand three times over the next 18 months to work with the orchestra. They will premiere a new work which he will write especially for them, and in April 2007 they programmed his orchestral suite, Oceania, which is taken from his opera The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. Through both SOUNZ and the APO he will also have opportunities to meet local musicians and composers.

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