Marcus Jackson

Meet Marcus Jackson, studying a Master of Music in composition

I chose to undergo a Master of Music, because I wanted self-directed time to delve deeper into the ideas that really interest me, and to see how I might go about developing these ideas into a more concrete creative practise, informed by research. Studying composition at Victoria University of Wellington, you are surrounded by a huge variety of musical styles and viewpoints. You get the chance to try your hand at almost anything and from there, you’re able to make well-informed decisions about your path.

I’ve had amazing opportunities at the New Zealand School of Music to work with internationally-recognised performers and composers, to experiment (and sometimes fail), and to mature creatively in a way that suits me. As a composer, I think I need two things to continue growing: exposure to new things and space to process them. Victoria University of Wellington has given me both.

Studying and living in Wellington is great because there’s always something new happening, and the almost-constant wind makes you appreciate silence—one of the most important things in music. There’s a very supportive creative scene here, with a DIY attitude, and a lot of people who are dedicated to questioning the norms in every sense of the term.