Jack Hooker, Kenyon Shankie and Steffan Paton, who are all studying for a Master of Musical Arts, were given scholarships to work on a groundbreaking project led by NZSM Professor John Psathas, while also completing their own Master’s projects.
Professor Psathas’s epic symphony, which commemorates World War I, will premiere at the New Zealand Festival International Festival of the Arts in Wellington next February.
The three students travelled with Professor Psathas and his production team revisiting battlegrounds and other important World War I sites in Europe and bringing together musicians from around the world to record an original piece of music honouring the sacrifice of individuals from many of the nations affected by the Great War.
“There was basically a whole year of pre-production before we left New Zealand. I spent a lot of my time communicating with the musicians. On the road, I did some of the audio tech work,” says Jack.
Kenyon and Steffan—as well as typesetting the score—prepared all the performers for their role in the project, ensuring that when they arrived to record their piece everything ran smoothly.
It’s hard for the students to name just one highlight.
“Every day was a highlight. There was huge variety across the 150 musicians involved—they are the best in the world at what they do—everyone brought a new experience,” says Steffan.
Jack says it was thrilling to be bringing a huge group of musicians together to work on the same piece of music.
“A musical project on this scale has never been done before.”
Although the travel is over for now, all three students continue to be involved in the project.
“Everything that the musicians need to do to stand up on that stage and play those notes, we are going to be involved in, in some stage or form,” says Kenyon.
“It’s going to even more meaningful for all of us to see it performed on stage—we’ve seen every detail come together.”
Kenyon and Steffan’s hand-in day for their Master’s project is the day before the premiere, meaning they will be “able to enjoy the performance that much more” says Steffan.
Professor Psathas says that all three students rose to the challenge presented to them.
“Jack, Kenyon and Steffan were fantastic ambassadors for NZSM, Victoria University and New Zealand.”
For more information about the epic symphony of commemoration, visit the No Man’s Land website.