Emma Pearson & Salina Fisher X NZTrio – Four Last Songs

NZTrio’s long-held desire to collaborate with celebrated soprano Emma Pearson in a performance of Strauss’ beloved Vier letzte Lieder led us to commission our compatriot Salina Fisher to arrange these mighty pieces for trio and voice. In this concert, Four Last Songs, we present that hero-piece nestled within a fascinating and varied collection, dialoguing works for trio with and without soprano. 

In the first half of the programme, we fall into the ghostly embrace of Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin’s The spirit and the maiden, before Fisher’s Kintsugi contemplates the process of thorough and painstaking repair leading to greater strength and beauty. Two songs, A Mirage & Stella Viatoris, are a treat from American composer Amy Beach, before we bask in the lush melancholy of Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, preparing us for Salina Fisher’s poignant arrangements of Strauss’ final works.

This collaboration premieres in October 2025.  The Strauss/Fisher arrangements were supported by a generous NZTrio Patron.

Finn Andrews & The Veils X NZTrio

Kiwi singer/songwriter Finn Andrews, of The Veils, joins the lush sounds of violin, cello and piano from NZTrio to perform songs from Finn’s first solo album One Piece at a Time.

The collaboration has been described as “a match made in heaven” (The 13th Floor), and these exquisitely touching songs draw you in and warm your soul as you listen to the combined talents of these accomplished musicians.  An intimate evening of music-making featuring songs from both The Veils and Finn’s solo back catalogue, as well as new material, masterfully arranged by composer Victoria Kelly for Finn and NZTrio.

NZTrio has performed this programme with Finn at the Auckland Live Cabaret Season (2021), Taranaki Winter Fest (2022), Tauranga Arts Festival (2023), and presents a revised programme including new material with The Veils band at WOMAD 2025.

Listen to Finn Andrews & NZTrio perform at the Civic Theatre in Auckland

BalletCollective Aotearoa X NZTrio – Subtle Dances

This triple bill features dazzling choreography by Sarah Knox, Cameron McMillan and Loughlan Prior, with dynamic performances by some of New Zealand’s best freelance dancers, sharing the stage with NZTrio.

Auckland based Sarah Knox’s beautiful work ‘Last Time We Spoke’ is set to music by Rhian Sheehan (arranged for NZTrio by Ryan Youens), and presents an emotively accessible exploration of the Covid-19 times that all of us have navigated – audiences and artists alike. New Plymouth born Cameron McMillan’s haunting work uses the score “Helix” by acclaimed NZ composer John Psathas, exploring ideas around homecoming. Loughlan Prior’s titular work is a fresh, nuanced contemporary ballet from one of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s brightest rising choreographers, and takes its name from Claire Cowan’s much loved NZTrio commission, “Subtle Dances”.

This stunning collaboration of contemporary ballet and homegrown music premiered at the Auckland Arts Festival in 2021 and has since been presented at Dunedin Arts Festival (2021), Taranaki Winter Fest (2024), and Wānaka Festival of Colour (2025).

Watch the trailer here

Nadia Reid X NZTrio

A richness of voice; a depth of emotion; wisdom beyond her years, Nadia Reid has claimed her place as one of New Zealand’s most evocative and profound songwriters. With youth spent in the company of folk clubs and the indie scene of Dunedin and Christchurch, Reid connected with the pre-and-post-quake Christchurch music milieu and quickly garnered a reputation among her peers for her penetrating songs belying her young age.

With piano trio arrangements specially commissioned from New Zealand composer Alex Taylor, Nadia reflects ‘It was a dream I dreamt up while in the throes of having a newborn and being in lockdown once again. I have been wanting to perform with the NZTrio for as long as I can remember. And it seems like the perfect pairing as I prepare to record my 4th album in August. I think the marriage of my band and I, and NZTrio is going to make for some real magic and I can’t wait.’

NZTrio toured this programme to Dunedin, Wellington and Christchurch with Nadia and her band in 2022.

Pacific Dance NZ X NZTrio – TOLU

Meaning ‘three’ in many Polynesian languages, TOLU takes a vibrant detour into the heart of MOANA, crafting a musical medley that resonates with the colourful tapestry of the Pacific. Through music and dance, the audience are taken on a journey across the ocean, where music is a metaphor for the interconnectedness of our Pacific Island cultures. 

Director Iosefa Enari, Pacific music director Aiono Manu Faaea-Semeatu and NZTrio worked together to compile a soundscape that represents various Pacific cultures in Aotearoa. Drawn from the music of Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Hawaii and Aotearoa, this was performed by NZTrio alongside guest musicians and dancers from Pacific Dance NZ. The work includes vibrant, visual scenography by NZ Arts Laureate FAFSWAG and award-winning production designer Filament Eleven11. It also features works from renowned composer and NZ Arts Laureate John Psathas. Arrangements of the Pacific music have been provided by Poulima Salima, Ryan Youens, and John-Paul Muir.

TOLU was presented at the Pacific Dance Festival in 2024, supported by Creative NZ & Auckland Live.

Simon Ingram X NZTrio – Rhythms of the Brain

“Rhythms of the Brain” is a dynamic collaboration between NZTrio and established contemporary artist Simon Ingram, with collaborators John-Paul Pochin and Kamahi Electronics. Including specially commissioned work “Asymptote” by talented NZ composer Alex Taylor, this visceral experience combines the exceptional musical talents of NZTrio and interprets their brain patterns as a visual work of art. A fascinating exploration of the inner workings of the brain and its response to musical stimuli, captured in real time with an EEG headset and interpreted through specially developed software onto canvas over the duration of the performance.

Presented at the Dunedin Arts Festival (2022), and Auckland Art Gallery (2023). The commission of “Asymptote” was supported by the Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust.

Watch the trailer here

Toru Whā, Ka Rewa a Matariki

Chamber Music New Zealand celebrates Matariki 2019 with:
Toru Whā, Ka Rewa a Matariki (‘Three, Four, The Rise of Matariki’)
Featuring NZTrio & Taonga Pūoro master Horomona Horo
This beautifully curated performance of works written especially for NZTrio by kiwi composers Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead, Victoria Kelly, Martin Lodge, Richard Nunns, Jeremy Mayall, and Gareth Farr, explores the meaning of Matariki in modern day Aotearoa and includes tuonga pu
A collaboration that contemplates and invites discussion on the first encounters between Māori and European explorers and the resulting effects on our shared culture, as well as the significance of Matariki in our Aotearoa/New Zealand today.
 
Watch Toi Huarewa (The Suspended Way) by Victoria Kelly
Watch Nga Whetu Hou by Martin Lodge
Watch Te Waka o te Rangi by Gillian Whitehead
Watch Ahakoa he iti he pounamu by Jeremy Mayall

Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time with Julian Bliss

NZTrio and British clarinettist Julian Bliss performed Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2016 national touring schedule.  A second collaboration of this will take place in August 2018 in Parramatta and Canberra Australia.
 
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VICTORIA KELLY, HOROMONA HORO & NZTRIO – TOI HUAREWA/THE SUSPENDED WAY

NZTrio and Horomona Horo (Master taonga puoro player) workshopped together with composer Victoria Kelly in the development of Victoria’s new work Toi Huarewa – a work for piano trio and taonga puoro. Click here to read about the process on Victoria’s Blog.

Simon O'Neill (tenor)

Gustav Mahler (arr. Kenneth Young)  Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) for piano trio and voice
 
Vermillion Songs by composer Juliet Palmer, written for piano trio and voice
 
Robert Kahn, Lieder, op. 46 (for piano trio and voice)
 
Richard Strauss (arr. Alex Taylor) Four Lieder, op. 27 (for piano trio and voice)
 
Premiered in 2016 as part of NZTrio Loft Series: Flare.
 
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Iris Dreaming

Composer Dame Gillian Whitehead, NZTrio, Poet-librettist Fleur Adcock, and Soprano Joanne Roughton-Arnold. Premiered at the Adams Chamber Music Festival 2017.
 
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Vicissitudes with the Mike Nock Trio

An alternation between opposite and contrasting things.
Jazz and classical music came together on stage in 2013 when two of New Zealand’s best-loved trios combined their considerable talents in a special concert featuring Mike Nock’s new work Vicissitudes. A musical celebration of the worlds of jazz and classical music, Vicissitudes reflects on our shared ability to overcome dire circumstances. Vicissitudes premiered to a sold-out audience at the Christchurch Arts Festival in 2013.
 
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2011 AUCKLAND ARTS FESTIVAL: O CAMBODIA

NZTrio was joined by three Cambodian folk musicians – Him Savy, Keo Dorivan and Him Sophy – to perform compositions by Chinary Ung (Cambodia/US), Him Sophy (Cambodia), Dame Gillian Whitehead (NZ), and Jack Body (NZ). These new works were inspired by Cambodia’s turbulent and tragic recent history.

In 2014, O Cambodia toured to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and multiple locations in China.

MASSIVE COMPANY AND NZTRIO: MY BED MY UNIVERSE

2013 marked the start of a project that forged new ground for NZTrio and theatre ensemble Massive Company. We worked together with composer/performer Chris O’Connor to develop original music that is fully integrated into a theatrical presentation of Gary Henderson’s script My Bed, My Universe. We workshopped and experimented closely with Chris and the team at Massive Company throughout 2013, developing and evolving what became an astonishing production for performances in 2014.

NEW ZEALAND DANCE COMPANY

NZTrio joined the New Zealand Dance Company on stage in 2012 for performances of Gareth Farr’s Mondo Rondo within their inaugural show Language of Living.

WOMAD 2010 TARANAKI

NZTrio with Lepistö&Lehti, a fresh Helsinki-based duo of talented and sought-after instrumentalists Pekka Lehti (double bass) and Markku Lepistö (accordion). The duo operates at the forefront of contemporary acoustic music with a distinct Nordic folk/jazz influence and a strong sense of musical dialogue. The Lepistö&Lehti sound is characterised by the players’ remarkable confidence and vision, which gives the music distinctively personal edge.

2010 SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO – NZ CULTURAL SHOWCASE

NZTrio performed NZ works by John Psathas and Wayan Yudane and played with Moana & The Tribe (contemporary fusion Maori dance and music) within a 1 hour show also featuring Aivale Cole (award winning NZ opera singer) and Footnote Dance (contemporary NZ dance)

2009 RICHARD NUNNS AND GARETH FARR – NGA KETE E TORU

NZTrio workshopped together with Richard Nunns and Gareth Farr during the creation of the new work “Nga kete e toru” in which Richard plays taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) with NZTrio.