45th CANZ Composers Workshop

Friday 29 August – Tuesday 1 September 2026
Dunedin

A key event in the New Zealand music scene, the annual CANZ Nelson Composers Workshop provides opportunities for emerging composers to learn about their craft and industry, to make connections with colleagues and peers, and to support our community. The CANZ Nelson Composers Workshop is open to all composers, sonic artists, improvisers, electroacoustic musicians, and composer-performers, including senior secondary students, university students, and freelancers. Selected participants have a work rehearsed and performed to a professional standard. Performances will be recorded and filmed, and documentation sent to the participant after the workshop. We assign each participant an experienced composer, to act as mentor, to help in rehearsals and in guiding post-performance discussions. The workshop also comprises daily lectures and discussions, instrumental demonstrations, concerts, and opportunities for socialising. Observers/non-participants are also welcome to attend.

Attending the Workshop

VENUE: Otago University School of Music, Dunedin

DATES: 5pm start, Friday 29 August – Tuesday 1 September 2026, ending approx. 12noon, followed by an informal lunch

MENTORS: Our line-up of mentors varies from year to year. Recent mentors include David Chisholm, Chris Cree Brown, Tristan Carter, Eve de Castro-Robinson, Phil Dadson, Reuben de Lautour, Simon Eastwood, Leonie Holmes, Glenda Keam, Reuben Jellyman, and Victoria Kelly. 2026 mentors will be announced closer to the time. 

COST: There is no tuition or participation fee. Participants and observers are required to cover the cost of their own accommodation, meals, and travel.

ACCOMMODATION: The workshop facilitates accommodation at a local backpackers in dorms shared with other participants of the workshop. Staying at the backpackers together enables a greater amount of socialising and discussion with your peers, and is highly encouraged. Participants are free to arrange their own accommodation if they wish.

MEALS: A simple breakfast is provided for those staying at the backpackers at no additional cost. Lunch and fully catered dinner options are also available through the workshop. As with accommodation, participants are free to make their own arrangements.

TRAVEL: Participants are expected to make their own travel arrangements to and from the workshop. If you are planning on flying to Dunedin, we strongly advise that you book as soon as you can. If you are concerned about transport from the airport to the accommodation, please let us know your arrival details and we will attempt to put you in touch with other participants on the same flight where possible.

CANZ MEMBERSHIP: Membership to the Composers Association of New Zealand is compulsory for all participants. Successful applicants who are not already members can join and pay their annual CANZ membership fee. For further information, see http://canz.net.nz/join-canz/.

Application Form

Please complete the CANZ Composers’ Workshop 2026 Application Form

We invite applicants wishing to attend the 2026 workshop to submit up to two works, one of which may be selected for performance. Please note that there will be a limit on the number of participants. Late applications will not be considered. Please get in touch if you are struggling with the deadlines.

If you are submitting more than one work, please list them in order of preference (which piece you would most like to be performed). Please email pdfs of scores and parts, and other files to For larger files, we recommend the use of a service such as WeTransfer.

Please bear in mind that this is a workshop setting and, as such, the maximum duration of scored/notated/improvised/live electronic works is 10 minutes. Your work will be allocated a 25-minute session, incorporating a performance and discussion. Read: if your work is on the concise side and/or for fewer performers, you could have more time for discussion, or potentially a second run at the performance.

Please do not feel you have to submit a complete work. Works-in-process, excerpts, and sketch ideas will be considered. The only criteria is that if instrumental works are unfinished, score/parts should be presentable.

The deadline for completing this application form and submitting your work/s for consideration for performance is 11.59pm Tuesday 14 July If selected, you will have until 11.59pm, Thursday 6 August to send through final scores/versions/files.

Timeline

14 Jul, 11.59pm - Deadline for completing applications. The form may deactivate prior to this deadline, once all workshop slots are full. You will receive an email confirming your status by 11.59pm Friday 16 May. 

7 July 11.59pm - Final deadline to submit score/parts for your workshop pieces. 

Please note, you are not required to submit a complete work. Works-in-progress, excerpts, and sketches are acceptable. The only criteria is that if instrumental works are unfinished, score/parts should be presentable. Score submission guidelines will be sent to attendees in due course. 

29 August-1 September - CANZ COMPOSERS' WORKSHOP (arrive Friday 29 August for 5pm welcome, depart Tuesday 1 September)

Artistic Forms / Instrumentation

We welcome applications of works from a range of musical artforms, including sonic arts, improvisation, installations, and electroacoustic/electronic music, including works for live performer/s, amplification, fixed media, and live processing. Accepting these works is subject to technical requirements and available resources. Please contact the conveners so we can do our best to accommodate you. Composers and sonic artists submitting works in these forms should submit audio or video documentation. A conductor may be available.

For instrumental works, the following are available:

• Wind Quintet

flute

oboe

clarinet

bassoon 

Trumpet

• Voice/s: mezzosoprano,  soprano,  baritone 

• String(s) (quartet) + electric bass

Violin x2

Viola x2

Cello x2

electric bass

• Piano

• Electronics/acousmatic - use of Tui studios

• Taonga pūoro x2

Voice(s), any of the wind instruments and TP can go with any of the ensembles:

 string quartet + electric bass

 piano

 electronics/acousmatic

Score Submission Guidelines

Please ensure that you follow these guidelines when submitting instrumental scores:

- For each instrumental work submitted, please supply a full score and individual parts.

- Scores should preferably be computer typeset, and may be neatly handwritten. As performers have limited rehearsal time, it is essential that your parts are as clear as possible.

- Where non-standard or unusual notation is used, provide performance directions for the performers.

- Proofread your scores and parts carefully.

- Ensure that you include the title, your name, and the instrument name on the front page of each part.

- Remember to check for initial and all subsequent tempo markings in every part.

- Ensure parts are correctly transposed and that you are using the correct clef for each instrument’s range.

- Check that page turns/changes are in convenient places.

- Include bar numbers at the beginning of every stave, not every bar. Use rehearsal marks if the work is long.

- Please bring at least one printed copy of the score and each part for the selected work with you to the workshop. Access to a printer or photocopier cannot be guaranteed.

Accommodation & Catering

The workshop facilitates accommodation at a local backpackers. More details coming soon. This is approximately $170 for 4 nights.

Contacts

Pieta Hextall Composer Convener 022 421 9445 canzpresident@gmail.com

Mark Menzies Performer Convener 021 412 303 violinmenzies@gmail.com

Please contact us with queries you may have concerning the workshop and your application. We are happy to assist where possible. Updated information about the workshop will be made available on the CANZ website, instagram, and facebook page closer to the time. 

Funding

The 2026 Nelson Composers Workshop gratefully receives funding & in kind support from:

• Dunedin City Council

• Otago Community Trust

• Lilburn Trust

• Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust via SOUNZ

• University of Otago