Composition and Sonic Arts

Meet some of our Composition and Sonic Arts alumni.

Salina Fisher

Composer and violinist and NZ’s youngest and most widely lauded composers, Salina undertook her Master of Music at the Manhattan School of Music. She was the 2019 Composer-in-residence at NZSM and now lectures in instrumentation and orchestration.
Postgraduate Diploma in Music in Composition and Sonic Arts

John Psathas

One of New Zealand’s most high-profile and frequently performed composers. John was the composer of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2004 Athens Olympics. 
Master of Music

Leila Adu

Assistant Professor of Music Technology at NYU Steinhardt, composer, solo artist, and PhD graduate from Princeton University.
Bachelor of Music with Honours in Composition

Grayson Gilmour

Award-winning film composer, solo artist, and band member, lecturer at Massey University's College of Creative Arts.
Master of Musical Arts in Composition and Sonic Arts

Lucien Johnson

Composer and performer, founder of the Shogun Orchestra, member of Lord Echo, Black Seeds 
Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition

Gemma Peacocke

Composer, PhD fellow at Princeton University, and co-founder of composer collective Kinds of Kings.
Bachelor of Music with Honours in Composition and Sonic Arts

Gareth Farr

Composer and percussionist, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, NZ Arts Laureate.
Music student 1989-1990

Stephanie Englebrecht

Sound designer, producer and percussionist who has created works for Footnote NZ Dance, PikPok, and Weta Workshop. Former member of Strike Percussion.
Postgraduate Diploma in Music in Composition and Sonic Arts

Briar Prastiti

Composer for film, television, and VR gaming. Solo artist and a performer active in many genres.
Master of Musical Arts in Composition and Sonic Arts

Karlo Margetic

Composer, APO Composer-in-residence 2016/17.
Postgraduate Diploma in Music in Composition

Rebekah Wilson

Co-founder and director of technology for international software development company Source-Elements.
Master of Music in Composition

Chris Watson

Composer and manager of the Resound project at SOUNZ—Centre for New Zealand Music.
Doctor of Philosophy – Music

Jason Erskine

Audio engineer with Wellington-based game developer, Pik Pok, and member of ‘witch-rock’ group Hex who recently toured to SXSW.
Bachelor of Music with Honours in Composition and Sonic Arts