NZSO 2026 Season Brochure by New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Experience something greater

Location: Milford Sound, New Zealand

EPIC. POWERFUL. EMOTIONAL.

The 2026 season invites you not just to listen, but to feel. This is not simply a concert experience — it is something greater.

Take your seat. Let the music wash over you, like a cascade of water tumbling down a waterfall. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s sound surrounds you, moving through you with a fluidity that is both unstoppable and breathtaking. Each performance pulses with raw energy, echoing the grandeur of Aotearoa New Zealand’s awe-inspiring landscapes.

This season is more than just a series of concerts; it is an experience of immense scale and stunning beauty. A chance to be part of something far greater than you imagined — a powerful, transformative journey through sound. Welcome to the 2026 season.

MARC FELDMAN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

He Haerenga Hou – A New Journey.

The 2026 season marks the beginning of a new era for the NZSO, signifying the culmination of Gemma New’s artistic leadership and our preparations for André de Ridder’s upcoming tenure as Music Director next year.

Alongside the orchestra’s musicians and our outstanding artistic team, they have crafted a truly blockbuster programme brimming with powerful, beloved masterpieces as well as new works that exhibit enormous depth of emotion and beauty.

This season also marks my first full year with the orchestra!

Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of travelling the globe through the gift of music, both as a musician and a manager. I have journeyed from my hometown of New York City — a cultural kaleidoscope where anything seems possible — to Europe, where the juxtaposition of tradition and innovation has continually sparked artistic revolutions and new horizons. Orchestral music has also taken me to the four cardinal points: from Asia and the Middle East to Latin America and the musical expressions of the Far North. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that a symphony orchestra can serve as both a cultural home and an extraordinary vehicle for discovery. So, it is only fitting that I have found my way to Aotearoa New Zealand!

This season is centred around the concept of a classical haven, enabling us to embark on an exciting musical journey. It features a remarkable collection of cherished, timeless works alongside new pieces and discoveries that enhance the beauty and power of the concert experience.

My hope for the coming seasons is that the NZSO evolves into a place where all New Zealanders can connect with what truly makes us unique in today’s world.

Kia huhua te haerenga whakamua - may the journey be fruitful!

Image: Stephane Lavoue

GEMMA NEW

ARTISTIC ADVISOR AND PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR

Kia ora NZSO supporters and music lovers.

It is our greatest pleasure to share with you the NZSO’s 2026 season, full of artists and programmes that inspire! Experience both familiar favourites and new perspectives live in concert halls across Aotearoa New Zealand.

On a personal note, it is an absolute joy to continue making music with this exceptional orchestra for our cherished audiences! Among the many highlights in 2026, we’re welcoming good friends James Ehnes and Sir Stephen Hough as they perform some Korngold and Saint-Saëns, and our brilliant Section Principal Clarinet Patrick Barry triumphs with Copland’s jazzy Clarinet Concerto. I’m also really looking forward to performing two marvellous Aotearoa New Zealand works this season — Concerto for Orchestra by Ross Harris and Hoata by Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead.

We further celebrate New Zealand composers with captivating music by Eve de Castro-Robinson, Kenneth Young, Anthony Ritchie and Jack Bewley, and we explore international contemporary voices such as Thomas Adès, Gabriela Ortiz, Michael-Thomas Foumai, Magnus Lindberg and Jessie Montgomery.

For those who love the romantic and the sublime, NZSO favourites Madeleine Pierard and Sir Donald Runnicles return to perform Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs alongside his Rosenkavalier Suite, and Simon O’Neill returns with highlights from Tannhäuser and Parsifal, conducted by former NZSO Music Director Pietari Inkinen.

It’s a special year for NZSO leaders on the podium! Pietari returns for the first time since 2015, Music Director Emeritus James Judd leads Beethoven 7 across the country and we welcome back Music Director designate André de Ridder for an exciting world premiere by Andrew Norman with trombonist Jörgen van Rijen.

Several young talents who are making waves across the globe will star in front of the orchestra, including María Dueñas and Isata Kanneh-Mason with Beethoven and Mozart concertos. Following his success with Emerging Artists and as the 2024 featured artist with the National Youth Orchestra, 16-year-old Shan Liu returns to perform Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. After conducting a spectacular NYO tour in 2024, Tianyi Lu returns for two concert tours featuring the beautiful Brahms Serenade No. 1.

For those who love the classics, there’s Mahler’s Titan Symphony, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Bernstein's West Side Story, Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen Suite, Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Brahms’ Third, Beethoven’s Ninth and much, much more!

We hope that these concerts will bring you joy, excitement, amazement, strength, solace, empathy, sensitivity, warmth and kinship. Cheers to a brandnew season — we can’t wait to get started!

TE TIRA PŪORO O AOTEAROA

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is your national orchestra. One of the world’s oldest national symphony orchestras, we have captivated audiences with memorable concerts and recordings since 1947.

Each year, the NZSO tours the country sharing the joy of music with communities and schools across Aotearoa New Zealand, reaching more than 70,000 people annually. We look forward to seeing you in our hometown of Wellington or on the road at mainstage concerts, family concerts, in-school programmes and more.

2026 CONCERT CALENDAR

WELLINGTON

FROM THE NEW WORLD

Thu, 26 Mar, 6:30pm

RESONANCE

Thu, 09 Apr, 6:30pm

TITAN

Fri, 22 May, 6:30pm

ROMEO & JULIET

Fri, 05 Jun, 6:30pm

NYO LA MER

Fri, 03 Jul, 6:30pm

LET THERE BE LIGHT Fri, 24 Jul, 6:30pm

RADIANCE

Fri, 14 Aug, 6:30pm

MYTHS & LEGENDS Sat, 15 Aug, 7:30pm

RHYTHM & DANCE Fri, 04 Sep, 6:30pm

EMERGING ARTISTS

Wed, 23 Sep, 6:30pm FOUR LAST SONGS Fri, 02 Oct, 6:30pm ELEGANCE Fri, 16 Oct, 6:30pm

ENIGMA Fri, 13 Nov, 6:30pm

BEETHOVEN 9 Thu, 19 Nov, 6:30pm MESSIAH Sat, 19 Dec, 7:30pm

AUCKLAND CHRISTCHURCH

RESONANCE

Fri, 10 Apr, 7:30pm

ROMEO & JULIET

Fri, 12 Jun, 7:30pm

NYO LA MER

Sat, 04 Jul, 7:30pm

RADIANCE

Fri, 21 Aug, 7:30pm

MYTHS & LEGENDS Sat, 22 Aug, 7:30pm

RHYTHM & DANCE Sat, 05 Sep, 7:30pm FOUR LAST SONGS Sat, 03 Oct, 7:30pm

ISATA KANNEHMASON IN RECITAL Sat, 17 Oct, 7:30pm

ENIGMA Sat, 14 Nov, 7:30pm

FROM THE NEW WORLD Sat, 28 Mar, 7:30pm TITAN Sun, 24 May, 2pm

LET THERE BE LIGHT Sun, 26 Jul, 2pm ELEGANCE Sun, 18 Oct, 7:30pm

HAMILTON

RESURGENCE Fri, 08 May, 7:30pm

DUNEDIN

SERENADE

Wed, 21 Oct, 7:30pm

NELSON

SUMMER TOUR Sat, 05 Dec, 7:30pm

SUMMER TOUR Fri, 04 Dec, 7:30pm

SUMMER TOUR Wed, 09 Dec, 7:30pm TAUPŌ 19 CONCERT TOURS

WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES 15 CITIES & TOWNS NATIONWIDE

MYTHS & LEGENDS Sun, 23 Aug, 2pm

SUMMER TOUR Fri, 11 Dec, 7:30pm

BEETHOVEN 9 Sat, 21 Nov, 7:30pm

ROMEO & JULIET Thu, 11 Jun, 7:30pm HASTINGS

SERENADE Tue, 20 Oct, 7:30pm

PALMERSTON NORTH

ROMEO & JULIET Tue, 09 Jun, 7:30pm

SERENADE Thu, 22 Oct, 7:30pm

ROTORUA

SUMMER TOUR Thu, 10 Dec, 7:30pm

RESURGENCE

Sat, 09 May, 7:30pm

SUMMER TOUR Tue, 08 Dec, 7:30pm

Your Legacy Echoes On

The NZSO thrives thanks to the heartfelt support of generous individuals who believe in the power of music to uplift, inspire and unite. Your support helps ensure the orchestra remains a world-class cultural treasure at the heart of our nation, enriching lives now and for generations to come.

By leaving a gift in your will, you can create a lasting legacy — one that echoes through every performance and touches countless lives through the beauty of music.

Please consider leaving a gift in your will to the NZSO Foundation. For a confidential conversation about joining the NZSO Foundation’s Encore Programme, contact Chantal Woodfine at chantal.woodfine@nzso.co.nz

The NZSO Foundation is a charitable trust, founded in 1996 to support the long-term financial security, stability, and development of the orchestra. Charities Commission Registration Number: CC24274.

SAVE WITH AN NZSO MEMBERSHIP

Membership has its perks!

A BETTER EXPERIENCE

• Advanced booking: get all your concert tickets prior to the general public

• Zero booking fees on any purchase through the NZSO

• Flexible ticket exchange options

• Personalised service by phone or email

• Select your own seats and get instant confirmation for concerts at all venues nationwide when booking online, excludes packages.

DISCOUNTS

• Discounts on all tickets you purchase through the NZSO

• Discounted Student, Under 25 and Under 35 prices

FREE STUFF & MORE

• Two complimentary NYO La Mer tickets

• Free reprint of tickets

• One free Introduce a Friend ticket for the season (Full Membership)

• Exclusive offers and invitations to special events

HOW TO BECOME AN NZSO MEMBER

No contracts. No fuss. Just purchase the Membership option that best suits you:

• Discount pricing (15%) for up to four tickets per concert

• Plus, one free Introduce a Friend ticket for the season

• Discount pricing (10%) for up to two tickets per concert

For more information, visit nzso.co.nz/membership or call the NZSO Ticketing team on 0800 4 SYMPHONY (0800 479 674). For full terms and conditions, visit nzso.co.nz/terms-and-conditions.

2026 SEASON

Powerful. Grandeur.

RODOLFO BARRÁEZ Conductor

MARÍA DUEÑAS Violin

María Dueñas appears with generous support from Susan and Donald Best ONZM.

With thanks to the Embassy of Spain in New Zealand.

EVE DE CASTRO-ROBINSON Aurora

BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto

DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, From the New World

WELLINGTON

THU, 26 MAR, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

CHRISTCHURCH SAT, 28 MAR, 7:30PM

CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL

FROM THE NEW WORLD

Conductor Rodolfo Barráez explores music inspired by the environment with rising violin superstar María Dueñas.

Location: South Westland, New Zealand

“These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil.”

ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK

The winner of the 2021 Yehudi Menuhin Competition at just 18, María Dueñas is swiftly gaining global acclaim thanks to her “luminously radiant and goldentoned, fluidly quicksilver technique” (Gramophone). Her exceptional talent will be brilliantly showcased for the first time in Aotearoa New Zealand in a performance of Beethoven’s beloved Violin Concerto — an immense concerto that expanded the horizons of the genre.

Inspired both by memories of his native Bohemia and the majestic North American plains of his new home, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World, is replete with lush, unforgettable melodies that have made it one of the most adored symphonies of our time. It is a work that speaks so powerfully to a sense of place and ideas of home.

We are proud to open our season with a playful tribute to our own NZ skies in Eve de Castro-Robinson’s Aurora — a fanfare of birdsong and momentum.

RESONANCE

Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte, (Pavane for a Dead Princess), despite its title, is not a funereal procession but rather a sublime and delicate portrait. It evokes the luminescent paintings of Diego Velázquez, with music that glitters.

From such an exquisite miniature, we launch the world premiere of a new trombone concerto from the brilliant American composer Andrew Norman. Featuring one of the world’s very best trombone players Jörgen van Rijen, the vast architectures of sound and light within Norman’s music will blow you away.

Shostakovich described his Eighth Symphony as an “attemptto reflect the terrible tragedy of war”. Composed in 1943, it is amongst his most complex, meaningful and personal works. An immense symphony that speaks of the despair of the individual against industrialised violence, the final movement finds its way towards the light and remains a clarion call for peace.

Location: Haast, New Zealand

ANDRÉ DE RIDDER Conductor

André de Ridder appears with generous support from The Diessl Family.

JÖRGEN VAN RIJEN Trombone

RAVEL Pavane pour une infante défunte

ANDREW NORMAN Trombone Concerto (World Premiere)

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 8

WELLINGTON

THU, 09 APR, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND FRI, 10 APR, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

We begin in a mythical world, where a sea nymph is transformed in Thomas Adès’ haunting and atmospheric The Origin of the Harp.

From such exquisitely misty transfiguration, we emerge into the dazzling, technicolour brilliance of Korngold’s Violin Concerto. Performed by James Ehnes, Gramophone’s 2021 Artist of the Year, his extraordinary spectrum of colour and articulation finds its perfect match in this beautiful neo-Romantic score.

At the time of writing his first symphony, Mahler was best known as a conductor. Titan emphatically announced his arrival as a composer of extraordinary talent, bursting, sun-like, above the horizon. From primordial strings, to clarinet cuckoo calls heralding a sumptuous dawn, to the work’s mercurial moods of joy, gloom, hell and heaven, this magnificent symphony is the sound of the boundless universe itself being born.

WELLINGTON FRI, 22 MAY, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

CHRISTCHURCH SUN, 24 MAY, 2PM

CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL

GEMMA NEW Conductor

JAMES EHNES Violin

THOMAS ADÈS The Origin of the Harp (NZ Premiere)

KORNGOLD Violin Concerto

MAHLER Symphony No. 1, Titan

Generously supported by Bill Falconer CNZM.

Location: Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand

JAMES JUDD Conductor

ANTHONY RITCHIE World Premiere

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 2

JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

RESURGENCE

HAMILTON

FRI, 08 MAY, 7:30PM WAIKATO REGIONAL THEATRE

TAURANGA

SAT, 09 MAY, 7:30PM BAYCOURT THEATRE

Adult A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $76 $59 $41 $30

LITE $81 $62 $43 $31

Concession A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $69 $53 $37 $27

LITE $73 $56 $40 $29

Music Director Emeritus James Judd and the NZSO perform three works that were well loved from their first performance, and one new work that is sure to enjoy the same acclaim.

Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony premiered to wildly ecstatic applause, and its famous Allegretto funeral march was immediately encored. Tchaikovsky likewise enjoyed a rapturous reception for his Second Symphony. This symphony, sometimes nicknamed Little Russian, should really be nicknamed his Ukrainian Symphony, given its loving use of Ukrainian folk tunes. Similarly, New Yorker Jessie Montgomery alludes to folk and popular music in her work Strum — specifically Appalachian fiddle music and jazz — resulting in a piece that, the composer writes, “transforms into ecstatic celebration”.

We complete this exuberant programme with a new commission from Kiwi composer Anthony Ritchie, who will undoubtedly add another musical gem to this concert of favourites.

ROMEO & JULIET

We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin Northey to conduct a programme pulsing with the intimate power of love itself.

Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest ballet scores of all time. Among the courtly grandeur of Dance of the Knights, the circling, slicing, jabbing music of Death of Tybalt, and the crunching dissonances symbolising the Montagues versus the Capulets, swirls the indescribably sweet lyricism of Romeo and Juliet’s eternal love.

The same emotional depth can be found in Barber’s Cello Concerto, performed by virtuoso Li-Wei Qin. Celebrated for a sound both “incisive and searing, yet filled with tenderness” (Straits Times), Qin will steep Barber’s concerto in deep feeling and passion. Sweet nostalgia reigns in the “drifting, Ravelian waltz” (New Zealand Herald) of Kenneth Young’s Douce Tristesse.

BENJAMIN NORTHEY Conductor LI-WEI QIN Cello

KENNETH YOUNG Douce Tristesse BARBER Cello Concerto PROKOFIEV Selections from Romeo and Juliet

WELLINGTON FRI, 05 JUN, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND FRI, 12 JUN, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

PALMERSTON NORTH TUE, 09 JUN, 7:30PM REGENT ON BROADWAY

HASTINGS THU, 11 JUN, 7:30PM

TOITOI: HAWKE’S BAY ARTS & EVENTS CENTRE

NYO LA MER

Welcome the new wave of New Zealand talent.

In 2026, the NZSO National Youth Orchestra brings together Aotearoa New Zealand’s best young musicians to perform Britten’s breathtaking Four Sea Interludes; Raise Hawaiki: Kealaikahiki, commemorating the trans-Pacific voyage of the Hōkūle’a waka from Hawai’i to Tahiti; a new commission by the 2026 NYO Composerin-Residence Jack Bewley; and Debussy’s La Mer, one of the most influential masterpieces of the 20th century.

NZSO Members receive two complimentary tickets to the NYO concert of their choice.

Tickets $10

Principal Partner

WELLINGTON FRI, 03 JUL, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND SAT 04 JUL, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

DANE LAM Conductor

JACK BEWLEY New Commission (World Premiere)

BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes

MICHAEL-THOMAS FOUMAI Raise Hawaiki: Kealaikahiki (NZ Premiere)

DEBUSSY La Mer

EMERGING ARTISTS

Aotearoa New Zealand’s brightest young musicians perform as soloists and side-byside with the NZSO in a concert celebrating the next generation of performers.

Tickets $10

WELLINGTON

WED, 23 SEP, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

JAIME MARTÍN Conductor

SHAN LIU Piano

BOHDANA FROLYAK Let There Be Light (NZ Premiere)

PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

LET THERE BE LIGHT

WELLINGTON FRI, 24 JUL, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

Adult + PREM A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $122 $117 $99 $76 $47 $30

LITE $130 $124 $105 $81 $49 $31

Concession + PREM A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $111 $105 $90 $69 $42 $27

LITE $118 $112 $95 $73 $45 $29

CHRISTCHURCH

SUN, 26 JUL, 2PM

CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL

Adult A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $76 $59 $41 $30

LITE $81 $62 $43 $31

Concession A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $69 $53 $37 $27

LITE $73 $56 $40 $29

From the depths of darkness, let there be light.

We are honoured to present Aotearoa New Zealand premiere of Let There Be Light by Ukrainian composer Bohdana Frolyak. Inspired by the war in Ukraine, this “brooding and luminous” work describes the return of the light (Opera Today)

Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto, begun in 1913, was similarly written at a time of war. Nevertheless, this music remains enticingly puckish, witty and brilliant — the perfect showcase for our astonishing young prodigy Shan Liu. Previously an NZSO Emerging Artist, in 2024 he performed with the NZSO National Youth Orchestra. Liu is a testament to the wonderful and important work our Education team achieve.

Finally, Tchaikovsky’s magisterial Fourth Symphony, from its foreboding opening fanfare to its galvanising finale, takes us on an epic journey, from fear of destiny to the glowing triumph of hope.

RADIANCE

PIETARI INKINEN Conductor

SIMON O’NEILL Tenor

WAGNER Excerpts from Tannhäuser

WAGNER Excerpts from Parsifal

Location: Te Anau, New Zealand

WELLINGTON FRI, 14 AUG, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND FRI, 21 AUG, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Two familiar faces reunite in this Wagner extravaganza.

Pietari Inkinen is a superlative interpreter of Wagner. His Ring Cycle at Bayreuth in 2023 led to Das Opernglas declaring “he might be remembered as one of the most inspired conductors who ever undertook The Ring in Bayreuth”. Simon O’Neill is undoubtedly the Wagnerian tenor of choice the world over and regularly performs at the Metropolitan Opera, Bayreuth, Covent Garden and the Vienna State Opera.

In this programme, these extraordinary Wagner specialists combine to bring to radiant life excerpts from two of Wagner’s most heroic and magnificent operas: Parsifal and Tannhäuser.

This event is simply not to be missed.

Supported by The Wagner Society of New Zealand.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes chime in kind with a country half a world away: Finland. In this concert, Arctic North meets Pacific South in a programme of heartstirring Finnish works that resonate with audiences here.

Pietari Inkinen leads the Aotearoa New Zealand premiere of Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg’s Second Violin Concerto, with NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen as soloist. This duo of Finnish talent are the perfect team to evoke the work’s “massive, expansive ... panoramic vista ... of dark clouds over forests and lakes, of repressed passions and baleful desires” (Financial Times).

We pair this contemporary Finnish masterpiece with a past master. Sibelius’ Pohjola’s Daughter and Lemminkäinen Suite were both inspired by the ancient epic the Kalevala. The latter describes the mythological adventures of the wizard Väinämöinen, the hero Lemminkäinen and their entanglement with the primordial forces of nature, death and magic.

PIETARI INKINEN Conductor

VESA-MATTI LEPPÄNEN Violin

SIBELIUS Pohjola’s Daughter

MAGNUS LINDBERG Violin Concerto No. 2 (NZ Premiere)

SIBELIUS Lemminkäinen Suite

Dramatic. Expansive.

Location: Fiordland, New Zealand

AUG, 7:30PM MICHAEL FOWLER

AUCKLAND

SAT, 22 AUG, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

SUN, 23 AUG, 2PM WAIKATO

RHYTHM & DANCE

GEMMA NEW Conductor

PATRICK BARRY Clarinet

JOHN ADAMS The Chairman Dances

COPLAND Clarinet Concerto

GABRIELA ORTIZ Antrópolis (NZ Premiere)

BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Stamp the beat and feel the heat in this concert of pan-American dance, jazz and pizzazz!

Gemma New’s signature “strength, clarity and grace” (WTTW News) invigorates this 20th century American classic, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. In depicting a New York gangland Romeo and Juliet, Bernstein’s score captures an irrepressible American swagger. Rhythm & Dance also infuses John Adams’ The Chairman Dances, an outtake of Adams’ opera Nixon in China, which imagines the young Chairman Mao dancing the foxtrot with his mistress.

Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto melds Latin American popular music with jazz in this work commissioned by “The King of Swing” Benny Goodman. And we proudly present the Kiwi premiere of Gabriela Ortiz’s Antrópolis. Grammy Award-winning Ortiz is one of Mexico’s hottest contemporary composers, and this work refers to el antro, Mexican slang for a nightclub.

WELLINGTON FRI, 04 SEP, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND SAT, 05 SEP, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

FOUR LAST SONGS

SIR DONALD RUNNICLES Conductor

Sir Donald Runnicles appears with generous support from Dame Bronwen Holdsworth DNZM.

MADELEINE PIERARD Soprano

R STRAUSS Rosenkavalier Suite

R STRAUSS Four Last Songs

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3

WELLINGTON

FRI, 02 OCT, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND

SAT, 03 OCT, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Adult + PREM A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $122 $117 $99 $76 $47 $30

LITE $130 $124 $105 $81 $49 $31

Concession + PREM A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $111 $106 $90 $69 $42 $27

LITE $118 $112 $95 $73 $45 $29

One of the world’s most acclaimed conductors, Sir Donald Runnicles, returns to the NZSO in a programme of pure luxury and ravishing beauty.

The sensuous, glittering raptures of the Rosenkavalier Suite evoke the decadence of 18th century Vienna in a dazzling array of complex waltzes.

Then delve deeper into Richard Strauss’ most personal, revealing and achingly beautiful music with his sublime Four Last Songs. These profound songs, performed by silver-voiced soprano Madeleine Pierard, sumptuously evoke a sunset portrait of a wife well loved and a life well lived.

We balance this decadence with the crystalline Symphony No. 3 from Johannes Brahms. In music that plays between light and shadow, the work takes on as its organising motto frei aber froh — free but happy.

ELEGANCE

Isata Kanneh-Mason, the eldest sibling in a dynasty of extraordinary musicians, is being lauded as a pianist who is “the real deal” (classicalscene.com). What a treat to hear her bring such intelligent elegance to Mozart’s last piano concerto. Praised by BBC Music Magazine as capable of making “lines sing beautifully and virtuosic passages dance, finding intimacy and eloquence at telling moments”, Kanneh-Mason is the perfect performer to bring this mature, serenely lovely concerto to Aotearoa New Zealand audiences.

To round out this programme, the NZSO performs two works that deserve a wider audience. Brahms’ Serenade harks back to Mozart’s own delightful serenades, while Elfrida Andrée’s Andante Recitative, written in 1878, was only rediscovered in the 1980s, and “open[s] in broody darkness, but quickly blossom[s] into optimistic, songful melody” (Michael Clive).

WELLINGTON FRI, 16 OCT, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

Adult

$122 $117 $99 $76 $47 $30 LITE $130 $124 $105 $81 $49 $31

Concession

$111 $105 $90 $69 $42 $27

LITE $118 $112 $95 $73 $45 $29

TIANYI LU Conductor

ISATA KANNEH-MASON Piano

ANDRÉE Andante Recitative WA MOZART Piano Concerto No. 27 BRAHMS Serenade No. 1

CHRISTCHURCH SUN, 18 OCT, 7:30PM CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL

$76 $59 $41 $30

$81 $62 $43 $31

Concession

$69 $53 $37 $27

$73 $56 $40 $29

ISATA KANNEH-MASON in recital

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason brings classic masterpieces and contemporary works to Auckland audiences for this very special recital.

Kanneh-Mason performs three landmark works of the piano repertoire: Ravel’s wildly difficult Gaspard de la nuit; Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata, which helped kickstart his Heroic Period; and his moody, evocative and utterly memorable Moonlight Sonata. Nestled within this extraordinary programme are two spellbinding works by Grammynominated Bulgarian-British composer Dobrinka Tabakova.

Kanneh-Mason is “the real deal musically: substantial, a developing pianist with ideas, viewpoints, and mature engagement” (classical-scene.com). This piano recital will only further burnish Kanneh-Mason’s inevitably rising star.

AUCKLAND SAT, 17 OCT, 7:30PM HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL

SERENADE

Location: West Coast, New Zealand

TIANYI LU Conductor

ANDREW JOYCE Cello

Andrew Joyce is generously supported by the Deane Endowment Trust.

ANDRÉE Andante Recitative

J HAYDN Cello Concerto No. 1

BRAHMS Serenade No. 1

OAMARU

TUE, 20 OCT, 7:30PM OPERA HOUSE

DUNEDIN

WED, 21 OCT, 7:30PM

DUNEDIN TOWN HALL

QUEENSTOWN

THU, 22 OCT, 7:30PM

QUEENSTOWN MEMORIAL THEATRE

Adult

FULL $76 $59 $41 $30

LITE $81 $62 $43 $31

Concession A RES B RES C RES D RES

FULL $69 $53 $37 $27

LITE $73 $56 $40 $29

The NZSO brings a touch of spring to the deep South in this programme of sparkling gems from the Classical and Romantic repertoire.

Sadly forgotten until the 1980s, Elfrida Andrée was one of Sweden’s first female composers and a trailblazer in her own time. Her Andante Recitative for Strings is exquisitely intimate and completely charming. Similarly, Brahms’ Serenade No. 1 has been somewhat forgotten, overshadowed by his titanic symphonies, but this six-movement serenade, Classical in form but Romantic in sound, never fails to delight.

NZSO Section Principal Cello Andrew Joyce performs Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1. Remarkably, like the Andrée, it too was only rediscovered in the 20th century, and since then, it has mesmerised and delighted audiences with its exuberance, bravura and humour.

Edward Elgar’s greatest masterpiece remains swathed in mystery.

His Enigma Variations, a set of 14 variations on a theme you never actually hear, has been the subject of both intense scrutiny and great love, thanks to the compositional genius and throbbing heart pulsing in these compelling variations.

Similarly, Saint-Saëns’ Fifth Piano Concerto has beguiled audiences with its Eastern-inspired sounds — hence its Egyptian nickname. To weave his own spell on us, legendary pianist Sir Stephen Hough returns to our shores. Praised by Limelight for possessing “an other-worldly stillness and strength [and] the perfect technique combined with the utmost poetic fluency”, Hough promises to transport us to another world.

We proudly premiere Ross Harris’ Concerto for Orchestra. A four-time winner of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award, Harris’ artistry and bold vision electrifies this newly commissioned work, driving the orchestra to new heights.

GEMMA NEW Conductor

SIR STEPHEN HOUGH Piano

ROSS HARRIS Concerto for Orchestra (World Premiere)

SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 5 Egyptian

ELGAR Enigma Variations

WELLINGTON

FRI, 13 NOV, 6:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

AUCKLAND SAT, 14 NOV, 7:30PM

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Location: Manapouri, New Zealand

BEETHOVEN

Location: Fiordland, New Zealand

THU, 19

GEMMA NEW Conductor

ORPHEUS CHOIR WELLINGTON CITY CHOIR DUNEDIN

DAME GILLIAN KARAWE WHITEHEAD Hoata

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9

The grand finale of the NZSO’s 2026 mainstage season features the grandest of symphonies: Beethoven’s Ninth.

Its audacious juxtaposition of styles, sounds and forces, including the revolutionary inclusion of a choir, marked the Ninth as a landmark work, not just for Beethoven but for music itself. Its monumental achievement and undeniable emotional power will be brought to stunning life with the help of Orpheus Choir Wellington and City Choir Dunedin.

Our essential need for community and connection is also at the heart of Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead’s Hoata. Named for the Māori phase of the moon where the moon is barely visible, Hoata was written in 1979 during a cold northern hemisphere winter and evokes the icy blizzards and intense isolation that swirled around the composer as she wrote.

SUMMER TOUR

A programme of Pergolesi and Rameau.

It is astonishing to consider the musical impact Giovanni Pergolesi made, considering he died of tuberculosis at the age of 26. Like Mozart, his early demise quickly became the stuff of legend — hundreds of works were (often falsely) ascribed to this Italian late-Baroque genius, while rumours swirled that his death was the result of murderous jealousy from musical rivals.

Location: Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

VESA-MATTI LEPPÄNEN Violin/Director ANNA LEESE Soprano

Led by NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen, we survey some of Pergolesi’s most brilliant opera — La serva padrona, Adriano in Siria, L’Olimpiade and Il prigionier superbo. We are delighted to have Aotearoa New Zealand soprano Anna Leese join us as we delve into music that glories in resplendent Italian Baroque colours and textures.

We complete this magnificent concert with a detour into the French-Baroque, with a suite from Jean-Philippe Rameau's Platée. C’est magnifique! Generously supported by Ainsley Walter.

PARAPARAUMU

FRI, 04 DEC, 7:30PM

TE RAUKURA KI KĀPITI

NELSON SAT, 05 DEC, 7:30PM

NELSON CENTRE OF MUSICAL ARTS

WHANGANUI

TUE, 08 DEC, 7:30PM

ROYAL WHANGANUI

OPERA HOUSE

TAUPŌ

WED, 09 DEC, 7:30PM

TAUPŌ GREAT LAKE CENTRE

ROTORUA

THU, 10 DEC, 7:30PM

SIR HOWARD MORRISON CENTRE

HAMILTON FRI, 11 DEC, 7:30PM

DR JOHN GALLAGHER

CONCERT CHAMBER

ERIN HELYARD Conductor/Harpsichord

SAMANTHA CLARKE Soprano

ASHLYN TYMMS Mezzo-soprano

KYLE STEGALL Tenor

ANDREW O’CONNOR Bass-baritone

THE TUDOR CONSORT Choir

HANDEL Messiah

MESSIAH

The Messiah returns in a Christmas-season concert full of joy, festivity and good cheer!

We are pleased to welcome Australian conductor Erin Helyard to steer the NZSO and The Tudor Consort through this beloved and substantial work. Though Helyard began his career primarily as a virtuoso harpsichordist, his conducting of works, especially operas, from the Baroque period is what has placed him squarely on the map. Named Limelight Critics’ Choice Australian Artist of the Year in 2023, Helyard is guaranteed to bring his special touch to Handel’s Messiah, combining deep musicological expertise with an opera aficionado’s instinct for drama and flair.

Join us for the spine-tingling majesty of The Trumpet Shall Sound and the joyful grandeur of the Hallelujah chorus, in the final concert of the NZSO’s 2026 Season.

WELLINGTON SAT, 19 DEC, 7:30PM MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

MEET YOUR ORCHESTRA

FIRST VIOLINS

SECOND VIOLINS

Andrew Thomson

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by The Fehl Charitable Trust

Violin purchased by the Margaret Doucas Trust

Amy Brookman

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Jessica Oddie

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

David Gilling

SUB-PRINCIPAL EMERITUS

Janet Armstrong

ASSISTANT SUB-PRINCIPAL EMERITUS

Julia Broom

Simeon Broom

Supported by Deryk & Jan McNamara

Elspeth Gray

Andrew Kasza

Megan Molina

Supported by The Cranfylde Charitable Trust

Elizabeth Patchett

Katherine Rowe

Christine Wang

VIOLAS

Julia Joyce

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Alexander McFarlane

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Supported by Mr Kim Francis & Mr Jeremy Johnson

Nicholas Hancox

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Sophia Acheson

Lisa Boyes

Anna Debnam

Beatrix Francis

Jenaro Garita

Victoria Jaenecke

Lyndsay Mountfort

Belinda Veitch

Eli Vincent CELLOS

Andrew Joyce

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by the Deane Endowment Trust

Ken Ichinose

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Supported by Donald Best ONZM & Susan Best

Ian Greenberg

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Supported by James Carpinter & James Christmas

David Chickering

SECTION PRINCIPAL EMERITUS

Brigid O’Meeghan

ASSISTANT SUB-PRINCIPAL EMERITUS

Supported by Professor Jack C Richards

Eleanor Carter

Supported by Nimrod Taylor

Sally Isaac

Joseph Kelly

Annemarie Meijers

Rowan Prior

BASSES

FLUTES

Bridget Douglas

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by Michael Snowden

Kirstin Eade

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Supported by Gillian Clark & Matilda Goldie

PICCOLO

Johanna Gruskin

PRINCIPAL

Supported by the Brandt Family

OBOES

Robert Orr

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by Chris Finlayson KC

Helen Clinton

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

COR ANGLAIS

Michael Austin

PRINCIPAL

CLARINETS

Patrick Barry

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Ellen Deverall

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

BASSOONS

Justin Sun

SECTION PRINCIPAL

HORNS

TRUMPETS

Michael Kirgan

SECTION PRINCIPAL

David Johnson

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Mark Carter

SUB-PRINCIPAL

Supported by Dame Adrienne Stewart DNZM QSM

TROMBONES

David Bremner

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by Jason Boyes & Nickie Van Der Beek

Matthew Allison

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

BASS TROMBONE

Shannon Pittaway

PRINCIPAL

Supported by JBWere TUBA

Andrew Jarvis

PRINCIPAL

TIMPANI

Laurence Reese

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by the Gibbs Family

Thomas Guldborg

PERCUSSION

Leonard Sakofsky

SECTION PRINCIPAL

Supported by Alison Holt

Thomas Guldborg

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL/ ASSISTANT TIMPANI

Supported by Tim Fulton & Anna Greenwood

Sam Rich

SUB-PRINCIPAL

Supported by Warwick & Linda Webb MNZM

LEARN & ENGAGE

The NZSO is dedicated to providing a wide selection of live and online performances, education and community activities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

We serve everyone from young musicians and aspiring conductors, to tamariki experiencing live music for the first time, to the neurodivergent community finding a safe space to enjoy orchestral music.

NZSO IN SCHOOLS ACROSS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND (2025)

Find out more about our Learn and Engage activities and how you can help support them at nzso.co.nz/the-nzso/learn-and-engage.

20,000+ SCHOOL STUDENTS REACHED

“An absolute highlight for all of us. A transformational experience for our students.”

- Primary School Teacher

SCHOOLS

ON THE STAGE

Experience the power of a live symphony orchestra! Schools’ Concerts link directly to the curriculum and are designed to engage young audiences with exciting music and interactive elements like original songs for students to sing. Join us for an unforgettable highlight of your school year.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Creating a love for music that lasts a lifetime. The NZSO brings hands-on creative workshops, live-streamed Online Classroom Sessions and digital teaching resources to schools across the country. Guided by the NZSO Music Education Animateur and with NZSO musicians, children learn about music and instruments and will compose and perform their own original music.

COMMUNITY

PRE-CONCERT TALKS

Dive into the world of symphonic music with a Pre-Concert Talk, featuring guest speakers discussing the inspiration and work behind the scenes that goes on to put a concert on stage.

TAMARIKI TIME

A fun, interactive introduction to the orchestra for under-7s, combining music, movement, storytelling and instrument exploration. The perfect first step into the world of live music!

RELAXED CONCERTS

Designed specifically for neurodivergent and disabled audiences of all ages, Relaxed Concerts offer a warm, inclusive concert experience for people who feel uncomfortable in traditional concert settings.

OUTREACH

From providing content for the Department of Corrections to welcoming trainee guide dogs to rehearsals, the NZSO is committed to supporting all communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION

NZSO NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Since its inception in 1959, the National Youth Orchestra has played a vital role in providing opportunities for the country’s young orchestral performers, many of whom have gone on to forge successful careers.

“NYO has once again been one of the best weeks of my life.”

- Richard Yeoh (NYO 2024/25)

EMERGING ARTISTS

Emerging Artists offers two fantastic opportunities for school students to perform in an unforgettable public concert with the NZSO.

NZSO FOUNDATION MASTERCLASSES

NZSO Foundation Masterclasses offer an extraordinary opportunity for young musicians to work with and learn from leading local and international soloists, composers and conductors.

YOUNG COMPOSERS

NZSO NYO Composer-in-Residence and the Todd Young Composer Awards provide young Aotearoa New Zealand composers the exciting opportunity to have their compositions performed.

“My time as NYO Composer-inResidence is already acting as a springboard for further career development opportunities.”

- Jessie Leov (2024 NYO Composer-in-Residence)

CONDUCTING FELLOWSHIP

Aspiring conductors from all walks of life join a year-long fellowship with the orchestra and receive bespoke opportunities to work with NZSO players, international conductors and educators.

JOIN OUR DONOR COMMUNITY

HELP US DO MORE

Thanks to our generous community of donors and supporters, we can do more for Aotearoa New Zealand. Your charitable gift directly supports the NZSO’s activity in concert halls, in schools and in communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

MORE ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING

Help underpin the world-class concerts and artists that you enjoy in concert halls around the country and even commission new music.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ARTISTS

Help fund key initiatives such as NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Emerging Artists Showcase, NZSO Foundation Masterclasses, Todd Young Composer Awards and Conducting Fellowship.

MORE SOCIAL IMPACT

Help fund nationwide school, community and accessibility initiatives such as Schools’ Concerts and in-school music workshops, Tamariki and Relaxed Concerts, Story Time programmes, Pre-Concert Talks, Livestreams and more!

JOIN US AT ANY GIVING LEVEL

By becoming a donor, not only do you join a community of like-minded people who love the arts and who make a difference, but you will also have access to the following opportunities:

UP TO $249

All donations of $5 and above will receive a receipt and qualify for a tax rebate of 33.3%.

MINUET ($250–$499)

Receive acknowledgement on our website and an invitation to a hospitality event during the season (Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch).

SONATA ($500–$999)

Additional recognition in our printed concert programmes, hospitality opportunities around concerts and a rehearsal experience at the Michael Fowler Centre during the season.

ARTIST CIRCLE

($1,000–$2,499)

Offers the same opportunities as donors up to $999 as well as access to a donor pre-sale period at season launch, hospitality invitations and rehearsal experiences (Auckland and Wellington).

ORCHESTRA CIRCLE

($2,500–$4,999)

Offers the same opportunities as donors up to $2,499 and special invitations to all VIP pre-concert hospitality events, open rehearsals and behind-thescenes opportunities.

VIRTUOSO CIRCLE

($5,000–$9,999)

Offers the same opportunities as donors up to $4,999 and invitations to a broader range of behind-thescenes experiences and private NZSO hospitality events with musicians and management away from concert halls. Gifts at this level also include the opportunity to sponsor an NZSO musician or contribute to a brand-new orchestral commission.

MAESTRO CIRCLE

($10,000+)

All of the above and the opportunity to sponsor Principal NZSO musicians and align with selected guest soloists. NZSO Maestro donors also have the opportunity to book NZSO musicians for private events and are recognised as major champions of the NZSO.

FORTISSIMO CIRCLE

($25,000+)

The Fortissimo Circle helps the NZSO bring the best international soloists to Aotearoa New Zealand and contributes to our international reputation. Fortissimo donors enjoy a truly bespoke engagement with the NZSO and are offered behindthe-scenes opportunities with visiting artists including meet and greets, private dinners and exclusive rehearsal experiences.

JOIN THE NZSO FOUNDATION’S ENCORE BEQUEST CIRCLE

A legacy gift to the NZSO Foundation will help ensure our work continues to resonate through time. Whether you’re already a donor or considering support in the future, a gift in your will helps guarantee the orchestra remains a world-class cultural treasure at the heart of our nation — enriching lives now and for generations to come.

JOIN OUR MUSICIAN’S CHAIR CIRCLE

NZSO Musician’s Chair sponsors are among our closest ambassadors, with all funds directly underpinning our artistic programme.

A gift from $5,000 unlocks the ability to partner with a musician for unique opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of our art form and forge a long-lasting personal connection with our orchestra.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN?

Let us know what you’re most passionate about. We’d love to discuss with you other ways you can support and get involved with the NZSO, for example:

• honouring a loved one by sponsoring a Musician’s Chair in the orchestra in their name.

• supporting a classroom visit or schools’ concert tour in your city or region.

• funding a new music commission for children.

• underpinning a major international artist.

CONTACT THE

NZSO DEVELOPMENT TEAM: fundraising@nzso.co.nz

CARLEEN EBBS

Individual Giving and Sponsorships carleen.ebbs@nzso.co.nz

CHANTAL WOODFINE

Bequests, Trusts & Grants, and Individual Giving chantal.woodfine@nzso.co.nz

MEI SCHOENBRUNN-NOJIMA

Events and Individual Giving mei.schoenbrunn-nojima@nzso.co.nz

ZAC JOHNS

Individual Giving zac.johns@nzso.co.nz

BUSINESS & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS

The NZSO builds bespoke business partnerships that deliver national visibility and are designed to meet your ROI objectives. Our team provides a flexible approach to creating enduring, innovative and mutually beneficial alignments through a broad range of activities.

The NZSO’s established engagement across the country is expanding, connecting annually with 140,000 music lovers through concerts, community, education and digital initiatives each year and reaching 1.9 million people on social media platforms annually.

For a conversation about aligning with the NZSO as a nationally iconic brand, please get in touch:

CARLEEN EBBS Senior Manager

– Development carleen.ebbs@nzso.co.nz

Image: Andy Kruy for Palliser Estate

TEIWA

Rob Ruha with the NZSO

WELLINGTON SAT, 07 MAR, 7:30PM

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

Platinum-selling, Silver Scroll-winning Māori singer songwriter Rob Ruha joins the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to transform the Michael Fowler Centre into TEIWA — a supernatural performance house of tribal futurism that will transport the senses.

From waiata you’d hear on the marae to the exhilaration of a stadium anthem, this is Aotearoa music turned all the way up, with the unmistakable haka power of special guests TOA (Te Taumata O Apanui).

Experience the world premiere of new waiata with our world-class national orchestra alongside Ruha’s most loved tracks that will have the whole house moving.

After a sell-out Matariki performance with the Auckland Philharmonia, this “mighty celebration” (New Zealand Herald) is not to be missed.

Visit nzso.co.nz to find out about other upcoming collaborations and partnerships. In 2026, the NZSO will work with:

Arohanui Strings+

Auckland Philharmonia

Australian Youth Orchestra

Autism New Zealand

Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs Chamber Music New Zealand

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

Department of Corrections

Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

Tickets on sale from 05 November at festival.nz

Presented in partnership with

MusicWorks Ensemble Festival Aotearoa

New Zealand School of Music

– Te Kōkī

Orchestra Wellington

Royal New Zealand Ballet

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

CADENZA CIRCLE (MAJOR GIFTS)

Extraordinary gifts for rare instruments of exceptional quality and provenance.

Founding Benefactor: Ainsley Walter 1755 G.B. Guadagnini violin played by Vesa Matti-Leppänen

The NZSO Foundation

The Diessl Family c.1690 Gioffredo cappa violin

FORTISSIMO CIRCLE ($25,000+)

Founding Member: Luke Pierson

Donald Best ONZM & Susan Best

The Diessl Family

Bill Falconer CNZM

Dame Bronwen Holdsworth DNZM

Roger & Catherine Taylor

Anonymous (1)

Adam Foundation

Todd Trust

Fehl Charitable Trust

The Mary Fitzwilliam Award

KEY:

Current NZSO staff and musicians

MAESTRO CIRCLE ($10,000+)

Dame Margaret Bazley ONZ, DNZM

Donald Best ONZM & Susan Best

Jason Boyes & Nickie

Van Der Beek

Sir Roderick & Gillian, Lady Deane

The Fairhall Family

The FAME Trust

Chris Finlayson KC

Sir David Gascoigne & Dame Patsy Reddy GNZM QSO CVO

The Gibbs Family

Richard & Peggy Greenfield

Tim Fulton & Anna Greenwood

Brian & Sally Hasell

Hugh Green Foundation

Dr Hylton Le Grice CNZM OBE & Ms Angela Lindsay

Peter Masfen CNZM & Joanna Masfen

Kevin & Lindsey Mason

Professor Jack C Richards

Peter & Juliet Rowe

Michael Snowden

Alison Thomson

Anonymous (1)

Current NZSO Board and Foundation members

Donor list is correct as of 14 August 2025.

VIRTUOSO CIRCLE

($5,000+)

Sarah Billinghurst

The Brandt Family

Marie Brown MNZM & Brendan Brown

Ros & Philip Burdon

James Carpinter & James Christmas

Gillian Clark & Matilda Goldie

Raewyn Dalziel

Susie des Tombe

Diana Duff-Staniland

Mr Kim Francis & Mr Jeremy

Johnson KSM

Dame Jenny Gibbs DNZM

Joy Gray & Robin Hilson

Holborow Family Trust

Holdsworth Charitable Trust

Alison Holt

Deryk & Jan McNamara

Douglas & Michelle Rathbun

Susannah & Paul Robinson

Heather Simpson

Gendie & Richard

Sommerville-Ryan

Dame Adrienne Stewart DNZM QSM

Judith Trotter CNZM

The Walker & Hall Trust

Freya Wang

Warwick & Linda Webb MNZM

Nimrod Taylor

Anonymous (1)

ORCHESTRA CIRCLE

($2,500+)

Ted & Ann Aspey

Mark Barrow

Philippa Bates

A. I. Boddy

Virginia Breen

Alison Buchanan & Eric Johnston

Noel Carroll

Allison & Victor Diem

Murray Eggers

Ian Fraser & Suzanne Snively

Michael & Creena Gibbons

A. K.

Sir Chris & Dayle, Lady Mace

Matthew & Deborah Malaghan

Sir Jim Mann

Kirsten Mason & Samuel Chuffart

John & Helen Meehan

Neil Miller

Alan & Luba Perry

Warren & Anne Plimmer Foundation

Rupert & Lucy Ralston

Martin & Catherine Spencer

Dr Ian Town

Noel Vautier & Kerrin Vautier CMG

Anna Wilson

Barbara Wreford

Anonymous (4)

ARTIST CIRCLE ($1,000+)

Odette Alleyne (née Outtrim) & Alan Evans

Alastair Anderson

Phillip Anderson & Jamie Jacobs

Anita Banbury

Aaron & Mara Bhatnagar

Guy Bowker & Beatriz Serna

Alan & Sandy Bulmer

Judith & Colin Calcinai

Margaret Collinge

Alison Cook

Hannah & Doug Drury

Alison & Steven Dunlop

Michiel During &

Cathy Ferguson

John Evans

Brian Foley

Angela & Brian Fouhy

Catherine & Steven Fyfe

Garry & Susan Gould

David & Sally Graham

David Grant OBE

Dr John Grigor & Ms Deborah Keating

Cliff Hart

Joanna Hickman

Ms Pat Hickson & Ms Josie Grace

Rob Hole & Sue Batley

David & Heather Hutton

Infinity RV

Jacquie Kean & Justin Smith

Marion Kiddle

Geoff & Elizabeth Lee

Drs Iain & Helen Loan

Linda Macfarlane

Ann Mallinson ONZM QSM

Claire McDonald

John & Elisa Mendzela

Jenny Mountfort

Mowbray Collectables

Clare & Justin Murray

Ian & Kim New

Michael Nicholls

David & Olivia Page

Fay Pankhurst

Barbara Peddie

Ross & Judith Pottinger

Julia Risk

Miles Rogers

Seaway Cleaning Services Ltd

Peter & Kay Squires

Ross Steele

Terence & Lara Stevens-Prior

Ken Thomson

Andrew Townend

Michael & Margaret Walls

Daphne & John Wardle

David Weatherburn & Maxine Dixon

Glenda West

Carla & John Wild

Tim Wilkinson & Lynette Murdoch

Nicola Williams MNZM

Kirsty Wood

Anonymous (16)

SONATA DONOR ($500+)

Virginia Abernethy

Eric Allan & Elizabeth Wright

Heather & Richard Armishaw

Ian & Gwyneth Armitage

Warren & Margaret Austad

Lesley Ayers

Joy & Rue Bourke

RGB Design & Print

Angela Caughey

Lorraine & Rick Christie

Lady P A Cooke

K Davenport & T Christmas

Florence De Ruiter & Ian Duncan

Tom & Dawn Fail

Tom & Kay Farrar

Dick & Shirley Fernyhough

Sas Fookes

Kallie Goulding

Laurence Greig

Douglas G Higgins

Dr Kasia Hunt

David Jenkinson QSM

Crispin & Elizabeth Kay

Jane Kernohan

Judith Knibb

Susanne Korinth

Dame Dawn Lamb

Martin & Anne Lawrence

Margaret Mabbett & Bruce Rae

Jeff & Marise McNeill

Glenda & Peter Menzies

Ian Millard KC

Doug & Adrienne Miller

Heather Miller

Bill Moran MNZM

Shinji & Keiko Morimoto

Andre & Helene Muller

Music Futures

Neil Plimmer

John Reseigh

Brigitte Schuette & John Davidson

Adrian & Elizabeth Simcock

Carol & Paul Stigley

Kathleen Sturrock

Ms Claire Szabó & Mr Rowan Johnston

Jenny & Ian Thomas

Ruth Thomas

Nicola Varuhas

Ryno & Jeanette Verster

Simon & Lynn Vodanovich

Peter & Kathryn Walls

Valerie Wenk

Kevin Wilkinson

Daniel & Kylie Wong

Nelson Wong

Gary & Jennifer Yanamura

David & the late Helen Zwartz

Anonymous (16)

NZSO FOUNDATION

ENCORE CIRCLE (NOTIFIED LEGACIES)

Viv & Duncan Bamfield

Mary O’Brien

Eric Johnston & Alison

Buchanan

Vivian Chisholm

Gillian Clark

Bryan Crawford

Murray Eggers

D J Foley

Hermann Grobler

Maggie Harris

Cliff Hart

Anna Marion

Caroline Sanson May

Shar Miles

Dr Lynnette Jones & Deborah Mills

Lisa Bates MNZM

Hilde Otley

Mr Robinson

Peter & Juliet Rowe

Anonymous (17)

REALISED LEGACIES (2015 TO PRESENT)

Leslie Austin

Mrs Ursula Bayfield

Barbara Kathleen Bird

Susan Branch

Peter Brooks

Mary E Brown

Henderika Heika Bulder

Jill Carter

Judith Clark

William Clayton

Frederick Coad

Jane Crosse

Dale Densem

Joan Dingley

Tony Haas & Tricia Donnelly

Margaret Doucas

A R Edmonds

Margaret Everton

Mary Fitzwilliam

Owen Gebbie

Valerie & Kelvin Grant

John Gould

Mary-Annette Hay

Robin Maxwell Henderson

Bill & Clare Hodgson

Kathleen Hughes

Murray Ireland

Allan Silas Jenkins

William Johnstone

Gendie Jury

Marie Lockey

Peter Lorimer

Morag MacDonald

Ray Martin

Corinne Shirley Opie

Zita Outtrim

Anne Pengelly

Ailsa Salt

Erika Schorss

Keith L Stichbury

Monica Taylor

E Prof Ann Trotter ONZM

The FAME Trust

Lesley Wyatt

Peter Young

Anonymous (3)

SALUTE

SUPPORTED BY

MAJOR TOURING PARTNERS

SPONSORS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

SPECIAL PROJECT PARTNERS

CREATIVE PARTNERS

We’re working with Trees That Count to mitigate our carbon footprint over the next 50 years and help protect New Zealand’s threatened biodiversity. That’s good for our carbon footprint and good for Aotearoa.

Landscape Photography William Patino

Additional Photography Phoebe Tuxford Latitude Creative

0800 479 674 / info@nzso.co.nz facebook.com/newzealandsymphonyorchestra instagram.com/nzsymphonyorchestra tiktok.com/@nzsymphonyorchestra nzso.co.nz/spotify x.com/nzso

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Location: Milford Sound, New Zealand