A composer’s dream come true; the new-music group cLoud Collective, composed of University of Canterbury music faculty staff, is dedicated to collaborating and sharing new music in Ōtautahi.
UC Music’s (from left) Senior Lecturer Dr Justin DeHart (percussion), Professor Mark Menzies (violin, viola), and Senior Lecturer Dr Reuben de Lautour (piano), of cLoud Collective, perform world premieres of new work on 5 December.
The talented and innovative musicians, Professor Mark Menzies (violin, viola), Senior Lecturer Dr Justin DeHart (percussion) and Senior Lecturer Dr Reuben de Lautour (piano), love nothing more than a creative musical challenge. That’s music to the ears of Aotearoa’s contemporary composers, however cLoud Collective’s reputation now extends beyond these borders as well.
Audiences can catch a number of world premieres on 5 December, 2pm, in the Great Hall of Te Matatiki Toi Ora | Arts Centre Christchurch.
Ōtautahi – loud and proud
Celebrating and championing the wealth of musical talent in Ōtautahi Christchurch is a key mission of cLoud Collective. As Professor Menzies said on Radio New Zealand (RNZ) in an interview before the group’s debut performance, “the capital L and small C in the group’s name is no accident. For too long we have been quiet in Christchurch, and that’s about to change!”
The music community grows
The new works by composers from Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad are each written for the ensemble and the specific talents of the players.
As well as commissioning and performing new music, cLoud Collective is committed to collaborating with other local performers – in this concert Tomas Hurnik (Associate Principal Cello, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO)) and Emma Eden (Principal Horn, CSO) will be part of the ensemble. Recent UC Music graduate Yifan Yang (Piano) will also share the stage.
Musical dream catchers?
“Two dream collaborators for a composer” is how Auckland-based composer Chris Gendall describes the ensemble members he collaborated with; Professor Menzies (violin, viola) and Dr DeHart (percussion).
