Change at the helm of Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music
Acclaimed composer, sound artist and academic Dr Dugal McKinnon will become Acting Director of Victoria University of Wellington’s Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) from Monday 22 August.
Dr McKinnon will replace current director Euan Murdoch, who is leaving Victoria to take up the position of Chief Executive of the Melbourne Recital Centre.
Professor Jennifer Windsor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Victoria, says an international search will soon be underway to find a new Director who can continue the exciting trajectory set for the NSZM by Mr Murdoch.
“During his time at Victoria, Euan has been an impassioned advocate for music in all of its many forms.
“He has initiated partnerships between the NZSM and the New Zealand Festival and Wellington Jazz Festival and established greater international links for the NZSM, especially with institutions in China.
“Under his leadership, the jazz and music therapy programmes successfully relocated to the Kelburn campus and No Man’s Land, a multi-layered world music collaboration led by Professor John Psathas and co-produced by Victoria University, was premiered.
“Euan has also worked tirelessly to explore the opportunities afforded by a potential Civic Music Hub with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Wellington City Council.”
Professor Windsor said she was confident the NZSM would continue to flourish under Dr McKinnon’s interim leadership.
“We’re very fortunate that Dugal brings a broad range of experiences in the NZSM and University as well as national connections that will serve us extremely well during this time.”
Dr McKinnon will act in the Director’s role for an initial period of six months.