Community project for Manawa Ora | Wellington Regional Hospital Orchestra and Choir chosen as the 2024/25 SOUNZ Community Commission.
The winning project for this year’s SOUNZ Community Commission will see composer Jacob Barrett work with the Manawa Ora | Wellington Regional Hospital Orchestra and Choir to create a suite of nine short orchestral lullabies.
The anonymous donor, who has generously supported this project for 25 years, selected the winning proposal from Jacob, who stated: "I am so humbled to receive this commission; I have been wanting to create this suite for some time, and with the support of SOUNZ I will finally be able to partner with the Manawa Ora Orchestra and Choir to make it a reality. Working with the wonderful Manawa Ora musicians - all of whom are local healthcare professionals that love to play music for others - is going to be a fantastic experience. I can't wait to share what we create with our community!
Working with the Manawa Ora | Wellington Regional Hospital Orchestra and Choir, this commission will allow me to create a suite of nine works dedicated to the nine whetū (stars) of Matariki (which will be premiered around the time of their annual Matariki concert). This piece will bring together patients, healthcare staff, families, friends, and more to co-create music that celebrates everything Matariki represents in terms of improving health within our communities, spending time with whānau, and the cultural significance of the Māori new year."
The SOUNZ Community Commission brings together New Zealand professional composers and community groups to create and perform a new work. It was established in 1999 and has resulted in works for diverse groups and ensembles such as a community group for young people with learning disabilities, community choirs, experimental sound artists, youth orchestras and children’s theatre.
