IAMIC Conference 'down-under'

Twenty-one delegates from IAMIC Member organizations congregated in Wellington in June for the 2007 IAMIC International Association of Music Information Centres Conference hosted by SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music. Out-going IAMIC President Roland Sandberg noted that, for most of the delegates, they were now experiencing an IAMIC Conference in the way NZ and Australia usually do - up-side-down! Mid-summer became mid winter for most delegates but despite dire conditions elsewhere in the country, Wellington turned on some spectacularly clear days – as well as a few of the famous 'fresh' breezes – to entertain the guests.
A welcoming powhiri at Te Papa Tongarewa / Museum of New Zealand was followed by a full programme of meetings, workshops and seminars, interspersed with concerts, social events and excursions. These included the Lilburn Residence and a visit to Park Road Post, the film and television post-production facility made famous through Peter Jackson's recent films. The mid-winter celebration of Matariki, the Maori New Year, was also a major feature with a presentation of taonga puoro and traditional Maori music from Richard Nunns and SOUNZ Trustee Dr Charles Royal in one workshop session and a
Chamber Music New Zealand / Te Papa sponsored concert from Tuhonohono, a group that specialises in the music of Gillian Whitehead.
Other highlights included a lively and informative Open Forum Day (with musical interludes from contemporary ensemble 175 East) and the IAMIC Concert from Stroma featuring eight diverse works selected from those submitted by IAMIC Members:

• Trace Elements for two wind and two string instruments by Damien Ricketson (Australia)
• Reservoir 2 for flute, clarinet, violin and cello by Tatjana Kozlova (Estonia)
• Clarinet Quintet for flute, clarinet, horn, trumpet, cello, and double bass by Sebastian Fagerlund (Finland)
• Suite pour axolotl for flute, clarinet, violin, cello by Jose Luis Campana (France)
• Meditazione Prima 'in eco' for flute, clarinet, violin and cello by Daniele Bravi (Italy)
• SYZYGIA for cello and two percussion by Gundega Smite (Latvia)
• Rituals II for bass flute, bass clar, trumpet, tenor trombone, percussion, violin, viola, and cello by Ruben Sverre Gjertsen (Norway)
• Cuatri Bosquejos Pre-Incaico (Four Pre-Inca Sketches) for flute and cello by Gabriela Lena Frank (USA)