NZSM brings together cinema and live orchestra for showcase

The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī (NZSM) is celebrating the learning and achievements of its film composition students and graduates in its first annual Film Scoring Showcase. Hosted by the Roxy Cinema in Miramar, the Showcase will feature a 28-piece orchestra of NZSM students who will perform a series of film score compositions live to accompany films on the big screen.

5 November 2019

The film scores include work from Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) (MFA(CP)) Music/Sound graduates Tahlia Griffis, Craig Drummond-Nairn, and William Philipson; current MFA(CP) Music/Sound student Ming Shi; and the four finalists from the NZSM Film Scoring Contest: Jose Jugo, Robyn Bryant, Nikau Wi Neera, and Jacqueline S. Boothe. Compositions from NZSM lecturer Dr Ewan Clark and current composer-in-residence Salina Fisher will also be performed.

In recent years, live cinema has been growing in popularity worldwide with Cineconcert experiences touring the world with live orchestra performances of films such as Harry Potter, Gladiator, The Godfather, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has also included live cinema in its repertoire, performing to Star Wars films live earlier this year.

“Live cinema offers audiences the opportunity to experience a film score in something similar to its intended context (accompanying a film and supporting its narrative). However, with the music played right in front of them, the audience can also choose at times to watch the orchestra and admire the musical performance and composition like one does at a concert,” explains Dr Clark.

New Zealand conductor Hamish McKeich will lead the NZSM Orchestra at the Showcase, while Hollywood film composer Graeme Revell will announce the winner of the Film Scoring Contest.

The Film Scoring Showcase will take place at 7:30 pm, 13 November at Roxy Cinema, Miramar.