"Composer-in-Residence"

Job Description:

• Do you want to contribute meaningfully to the New Zealand musical landscape?
• Are you an established composer looking to undertake full-time creative work?
• Have you got a distinctive creative voice?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Composer-in-Residence to join Te Kōkī - New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) on a 9-month fixed-term, full-time contract.

The position is jointly funded by Creative New Zealand, Lilburn Residence Trust (LRT) donors and the NZSM Composer-in-Residence Endowment Fund, with the NZSM and LRT acting as host organisations. The successful candidate will be housed at the Lilburn Residence, the former home of Douglas Lilburn ONZ, in Thorndon, Wellington. A small rental covers basic maintenance and utilities.

This position fosters and develops the New Zealand musical landscape by:

• Providing an established composer with the opportunity to write full-time for the period of tenure.
• Facilitating greater engagement between the resident composer, the academic communities at NZSM and the University, the Thorndon arts precinct, and the wider Wellington arts community.
• Providing numerous professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities to a creative artist.

Key responsibilities:

• The appointee will be expected to devote the residency period primarily to creative work, contributing meaningfully to the New Zealand musical/sonic landscape.
• While there are no formal teaching obligations, engagement with the NZSM community (staff and students) is encouraged.
• Reside at the Lilburn Residence in Thorndon, Wellington, for the duration of the residency, maintaining respect for the historical and cultural significance of the house.
• Engagement with the Thorndon arts community and with the wider Wellington arts communities is also encouraged.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

Applicants must be established composers/sonic artists of proven merit, with a track record of substantial and sustained creative activity spanning a period of years. Creative output may be in any sound-related field, including, but not limited to, classical composition, jazz composition, sonic art, taonga puoro composition, sound installation practice, film scoring and choral composition.

Key requirements:

• A strong track record of sustained and substantial compositional activity over a number of years.
• A distinctive creative voice and a commitment to artistic excellence.
• Able to work independently and maintain a focused compositional practice over an extended period.
• Willing to share ideas and engage with the NZSM and University community and beyond.
• Open to informal mentoring, discussion, and public engagement opportunities.

Role Description - Click here to see further information about the role, including salary.

Instructions for Applicants - Click here to see further information about how to apply.

Close date for vacancy: 3 October 2025.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Michael Norris (michael.norris@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. When applying for this position, candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

Applicants must hold a current valid New Zealand passport or residency visa. Applicants must not be studying as a university student during the period of the residency and should not be employed in a permanent or substantial fixed-term role with any other employer during the period of the residency (one-off third-party contracts particularly of a musical nature, such as gigs, festivals, tours, or commissions, are acceptable).

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.