Events

We hold regular events at both national and branch level, which both members and non-members can attend. 

You can also find details of events held by our colleagues in music education here.

Due to Covid-19 the 2021 Conference has been held over until 25 – 28 January 2022
Please see the Postponment Notice for details. 

The 2020 Conference “Bridging Cultures: Beethoven 250 and Beyond” was held in Auckland in January.

Northland Branch Events

Mini Recitals: Sunday 22 November

At the Old Library. Session Times 2pm and 3pm
In this concert, players are to perform at the Soiree on 29th November
The Scholarship Class is in the second session (at 3pm). Players grade 5 or above are eligible to participate. Candidates must bring their CV and a copy of the music for the adjudicators on the day.
Entries to Jennifer Wordsworth by 9th November. You must provide: player’s name, age, grade; name of item and composer; instrument; and which session to enter. 

Soiree: Sunday 29 Nov 7pm

Cafler Suite, Forum North
The annual formal concert of IRMTNZ Northland Branch.
Please return all trophies in good condition that were given at last year’s Soiree back to Rae Patterson by November 1st at the latest. 

Whangarei Youth Music 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert

Sunday 29th November at 3pm at Expo Hall, Forum North

Northland Sinfonia

Beethoven Concert
Sunday 6th December at 3pm at Capitaine Bougainville Theatre Forum North
Programme:
Fidelio Overture
Symphony No.5, in C minor
Piano Concerto No.5, in Eb major
Piano solo: Atsuko Fukuoka

IRMTNZ Northland Branch Christmas Concert

Sunday 13th December at Cafler Suite

Auckland Branch Events

Urgently Seeking Volunteers!

The Auckland Branch Committee is in urgent need of new volunteers otherwise there will be no seminars, scholarships, professional development opportunities, networking events. At the moment Committee meetings are on Friday mornings twice a term but there is room for discussion by Zoom, Skype etc. If you are interested, please email your contact details to

Thelma Gordon Memorial Awards

This is a reminder that the Thelma Gordon Awards are available in the following categories:

Scholarship Award of $1000.00 to be given to the candidate with the highest mark in the ATCL Teaching Diploma. The Pass mark must have been attained.
Scholarship Award of $1000.00 to be given to the candidate with the highest mark in the DipABRSM Teaching examination. The Pass mark must have been attained.
Scholarship Award of $500.00 to be given to the candidate with the highest mark in the ABRSM Grade 8 Theory examination. A minimum mark of 80 (Merit) must have been attained.
In the event of more than one candidate attaining the same mark, the Award will be shared equally between the recipients.

Candidates must have been studying with or being mentored by an IRMT Auckland Branch teacher at the time of entering the examination in 2019. See Thelma Gordon Scholarship Grant for more details.

The Thelma Gordon Teacher Training Grant of $400 is awarded to successful applicants undertaking the Teacher Training Foundation Course run by IRMTNZ.
This is an initiative from the Auckland Branch to encourage those teachers less experienced to further develop their teaching skills. The Grant is made possible through the Thelma Gordon Memorial Bequest and covers the full cost of the three parts of the Foundation Course. Applicants must have been taught or mentored by an IRMT teacher in Auckland, preferably within three years prior to the application. The minimum practical standard must be Grade 8 and working towards a Diploma, University Music Degree, or a Post-Graduate course for Instrumental teaching. Applicants must be residing in the Auckland area. 

Auckland Teachers Forum

 Auckland Branch runs Teaching Forums hosted by Susan Smith and Fiona Bygrave. Excitingly, we now have many more new, young and innovative teachers joining the Institute, so  are hosting Mentoring sessions. For details of the next forum, please email: or call 021 2652 628

Student Performers Groups

North Shore – St Aidan’s Church 97 Onewa Road, Northcote
Enquiries: Melody Deng  

Selwyn – St Luke’s Church, Remuera Road
Enquiries: Sharon Martin 09 528 3878 or

Eastern – Howick Children’s Youth Theatre, 29 Granger Road, Howick   
Enquiries: Susan Theron 021 0291 272 or

Mediant – St Cuthbert’s College Performing Arts Centre, Room 203  Market Road, Epsom
Enquiries: Geoffrey Hinds 09 630 3267 or

Southern – Old Central School, 57 Wood St, Papakura  $5 per family
Enquiries: Gina Sanders/Fleur Chee or

Hibiscus Coast
Enquiries: Louise Lamb 09 427 5212 or 

Waikato Branch Events

Music Teachers’ Support Group Meetings

Next meeting:  Please contact Alison Littler

End of Year Lunch

27th November – more details to follow

Interested in Volunteering to Play Piano at Waikato Hospital?

Volunteering and playing the piano in the main auditorium on L1 and/or OPR2 which is the rehabilitation ward for older people
Why not get together a group of your students and organise a “mini concert” for patients and visitors?
Contact Krasi May if you are interested

Waikato Branch Piano

 IRMT Waikato owns the piano at the Chartwell Co-operating Church. It is available for use by members for a nominal amount. Contact Christine for details.

Useful Links for other music events in Waikato

Creative Waikato Events: www.creative_waikato.co.nz

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts events: www.waikato.ac.nz/academy

Bay of Plenty Branch Events

Music Club

Friday November 20th 6:30pm – 8:30 pm 
This is an informal evening to catch up with fellow teachers, share stories and have a good time.
Please bring $7 cash for refreshments (wine, cheese, chocolate and non alcoholic drinks)
RSVP to Adele Dickinson by 18th November to confirm attendance and for venue details

Branch End of Year Function

5th December at 12pm. Venue: Nautilus Restaurant, 50B Cross Road, Sulphur Point
$19 adults, $16 seniors 16+ (proof of age required)
Please RSVP to Robyn Buxton via text 027 492 100 by Thursday 3rd December as restaurant requires confirmation of numbers

Tomatis Workshop

Tomatis is a method developed by Doctor Tomatis that focusses on brain health and general wellbeing. It improves attention, speech and memory using sound/bone conduction through the ears and the skull, identifying the crucial relationship between the ear and the voice. Some people cannot “process” information even when hearing it, hence they have difficulties in listening. The Tomatis method helps in rewiring these processing connections in the brain via the ear for improved learning, communication and  emotional balance. For more information see the website www.tomatis.com
Date to be confirmed.

Branch Kawai Piano

Members are reminded that the piano, housed in the Village on 17th Ave hall, is available for use. Hall hire has to be arranged separately with the Village. 
BOP financial members $20 for personal use by members. This includes student concerts. NB This does not apply to members accompanying soloists/groups who are performing in fund raising activities for other organizations
Examination Board Activities $75 per half day – (that is a morning, an afternoon or an evening.) NB – Practice time for examination candidates is free when booked through the examination board.
General $75 per half day – $140 per full day
Rehearsal Time – $50 per half day. There is no fee payable if rehearsing for an official IRMT function, e.g. master classes, seminars, scholarship.
For further information or booking please contact Adele Dickinson

Rotorua & Taupo Branch

Dr Barry Smith Memorial Instrumental Scholarship

Rotorua Civic Arts Trust has recently launched a new instrumental scholarship in memory of Dr Barry Smith. If you have students who you consider might be eligible and interested, they can find details, and apply online via the Rotorua Civic Arts Trust website. Applications close on 31 October 2020, and will be considered at the November trustees’ meeting – with the award being made to the successful applicant in December 2020. 

Upcoming Events

Showcase Concert – Sunday 29th November at 2pm at St Luke’s Church, Rotorua.

Facebook page

Institute of Registered Music Teachers Rotorua

Hawkes Bay Branch

Upcoming Events

5 December – Examiners’ Choice Concert

Gisborne sub Branch Events

Taranaki Branch Events

Pot Luck Lunch then CPD – it’s as easy as 123!

Saturday 29 November 12:30pm at the home of Susan Case
RSVP by Monday 23 November to to confirm attendance and for address
Following our branch lunch our Branch Chair, Cathy Martin, will show us quick and easy ways to record CPD points. If you’ve kept track of your 2020 musical activities in your diary or on your laptop or iPad, bring them along. 

Branch Recitals 

Remaining Dates:
Sunday 6 Dec 1:30 pm

All recitals held at St Andrew’s Church, Liardet Street, New Plymouth
Entry fees: $3 per adult; $5 for two adults. Children and performers are free.

Manawatu Branch Events

MUSIC VIVA/Manawatu Rotary Young Performers’ Scholarship 2020 – CANCELLED

OrganPower (Roy Tankersley, organ)

Wednesdays 12:15 pm at Palmerston North Central Baptist Church
9 December: “An Upside down Christmas”

Wellington Branch Events

Final Book Chat for 2020

Thursday 19 November starting at 7:45 pm at Barbara Campbell‘s house (RSVP for address) 
There will be drinks and something tasty to have together beforehand. 
The book to be discussed is Mindfulness in Music by Mark Tanner.
Available from Fishpond, Amazon, Kindle, Book Depository and Unity Books. 
Points we might discuss include: What is mindfulness; what do you listen for/attend to/experience when you hear music, etc. 

Open Lesson Session and End of Year Social

Sunday 22 November from 3pm at Queen Margaret College, Thorndon
Entry (cash or online) $15 IRMTNZ members; $25 non-IRMTNZ; $10 Tertiary student
Join us for an afternoon of professional development, followed by our year end social.
We will have three demonstration lessons from Julia Walls (piano), Emma Sayers (piano) and Rosemary Bromley (voice), each followed by a discussion and your chance to ask questions. 
This will be followed by drinks at 5:30 pm and a pot luck meal at 6pm, finishing by 7:30pm. 

Grants and Scholarships

Wellington branch members may apply for a grant from either the Kate Jourdain or Ariadne Danilow bequest funds. See the Wellington branch website for more details. 

Freemasons Lankhuyzen/Whetu-Kairangi Music Award

For music students with a connection to the Wellington Region
For more information about this award, please see: http://www.themasons.org.nz/cdiv/trustlankhuyzen.html

Practice Venue 

Expressions, Upper Hutt – a unique practice venue! Have students preparing for the higher grades, or diploma levels? Need to have a run-through before the big day? Students will now be able to practice on the Steinway Grand Piano at the Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt. Times must be booked in advance by emailing or phoning Michelle on 527 2163.

Wellington Branch website and Facebook page

More details on our upcoming Events on the Wellington branch website or on the Facebook page 

Christchurch Branch Events

Mature Students Recital

Sunday 29 November, 7 pm, venue TBC
These recitals are a wonderful, friendly and safe opportunity to play a piece in front of a small audience. We welcome instrumentalists, singers, duets and small ensembles as well as pianists. Participants are asked to bring a dessert to share after the recital. Conact Janey Seed with the name of your item, an idea of the grade level and the length of the item by Sunday 22 November. 

Christmas Afternoon Tea

Saturday 5th December 3pm at Raspberry Cafe, 40 Rhodes Road, Tai Tapu
Numbers are limited to 20 so be quick!

IRMT Use of Facilities at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School

The IRMT piano owned by the Christchurch branch is currently being used by Rangi Ruru School in one of their music studios. In return, they are offering reduced rates to any Branch members who wish to make use of the Merivale Lane Theatre for their student recitals. 
Hire prices: Merivale Lane Theatre and foyer $75 per hour (includes use of Bosendorfer piano)
P1 (large room in Performing Arts Block with good Yamaha grand $25 per hour
Music studio $15 per hour
All bookings and inquiries to Eddie Cropley, Facilities and Events Manager or visit the school website

Merle Henry Fund

Foundation Course Scholarship which covers 50% of the Registration Fee for an applicant to attend the IRMTNZ Foundation Course. 
Criteria for eligibility: 
– Must be a pupil of a current IRMTNZ Christchurch branch member
– Be at least 18 years old
– Have attained as a minimum a pass in Grade 8 Practical Examination and Grade 5 Theory Examination gained from any recognised Examination Board
– Be a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand
The award of this scholarship will be at the discretion of the Committee of the IRMTNZ Christchurch Branch. 
For more details including the application form please contact the Christchurch Branch Secretary

Events at The Piano Centre for Music and the Arts

156 Armagh Street, Christchurch
See Events Calendar

Otago Branch Events

Baroque Bash and End of Year Dinner

December 5th, Marama Hall and University Staff Club from 1:00pm until late

Come along to Marama Hall for a lecture and masterclass with Professor Terence Dennis on aspects of music from the Baroque period from 1pm – 3pm. This session is open to the public. Please nominate students to the committee at
Charges: Members $10; students $5; public $20; family concession $30.

Following the tea break we will learn a baroque song or two with Judy Bellingham. This will be followed by an informal opportunity for members and their students to try the harpsichord and fortepiano. 

At 5:30pm we will adjourn to the Staff Club for a two course dinner, cost $37.50 +GST. The Staff Club has agreed to waive their usual service fee if we have 30 people dining, so please join us. We are hoping that members outside Dunedin will attend – please contact the committee if you need help with accommodation. 

Dunedin Concerto Competition 

A place for Otago IRMT members to interact online with issues related to our teaching. It is for discussion, questions, wondering, sharing as well as the odd funny or two.
It is a Closed Group, meaning you have to be “accepted” into the group and no-one else can access it.