Orchestra Central Competition and Workshop

As part of Central Celebrates, Orchestras Central’s mini-festival and in collaboration with the Conservatorium of Music, University of Waikato. With Dr Michael Williams, Bjorn Arntsen and Rupert D'Cruze, Orchestras Central is once again excited to invite tertiary and school-age students to submit compositions to be workshopped as part of our 'Central Celebrates' mini-festival.

Up to six compositions will be selected for the workshop with Orchestras Central’s OCT Ensemble, conducted by Rupert D’Cruze.

All submitted compositions will receive feedback. The selected composers will have the opportunity to take part in a Zoom session prior to the workshop.

A video of the workshop session will be provided to participants.

Two winning compositions will be announced at the workshop - one school and one tertiary level.

ENTRY DETAILS

Eligibility
Open to school-age and tertiary students who are New Zealanders or Permanent Residents currently resident in New Zealand and international students studying at a New Zealand institution.

Instrumentation
Works for any combination of no less than 3 players of a standard string quartet – violin, violin, viola, cello.
Possible combinations:
two violins and viola
two violins and cello
violin, viola, cello
violin, violin, viola, cello (standard string quartet)

Compositional Theme:
A response to ‘Our Place – Aotearoa’

Duration
Between 3-6 min

Artists: OCT Ensemble

Closing date for submissions:
5pm, Friday 6 June 2025

Registration and submission:
 -  Complete registration form using link below
 -  Email full score with no identifier (parts not required for initial selection round) to outreach@orchestras.org.nz
 -  Send audio file via WeTransfer to outreach@orchestras.org.nz
 -  Include composition duration on your full score (should be between 3-6 minutes)

Notification of selection
by Friday 4 July 2025