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

Invitation to Open Concert

Sunday 30 August 2pm at Old Library, 7 Rust Avenue
All music teachers and their students are invited to come and play at our concert. 
one item per player, please provide player’s name, name of music and composer. Providing player’s age and grade would help us make the programme.
Entries by 21 August to Dora Harkness
$5 per adult at the door to watch the concert

Upcoming Events

All at Cafler Suite, Forum North

Sunday 9 August – IRMT Proms. 2pm – Beginners & Non-Beethoven Items; 3:30 pm – Beethoven Concert
Sunday 15 Nov   – IRMT Mini Recitals, Old Library
Sunday 29 Nov – IRMT Soiree
Sunday 13 Dec   – IRMT Christmas Concert

Chamber Music Contest 

District contest and regional finals – video performances will be adjudicated
FINAL in Wellington Fri 7 and Sat 8 August. For details: https://chambermusic.co.nz/contest

NPAC (Northland Performing Arts Competitions)

Entries closed on 3rd July. See www.northlandperformingarts.org.nz
Senior Vocal 11-13 September; Vocal under 12 26-27 September; Piano & Instrumental 19-20 September

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

Auckland Branch Scholarship Weekend

September 4 – 6
Closing date 31st July

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
29 August; 14 November
Enquiries: Sharon Martin 09 528 3878 or 

Eastern – Howick Children’s Youth Theatre, 29 Granger Road, Howick   
4pm Saturdays: 8 August; 19 September; 31 October
Enquiries: Susan Theron 021 0291 272 or

Mediant – St Cuthbert’s College Performing Arts Centre, Room 203  Market Road, Epsom
13 September; 15 November
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
2 concert times: 1pm and 3pm
15 August – Music Festival – Orewa Arts & Events Centre, Riverside Road, Orewa
7 November – Orewa Baptist Church, Loop Road, Orewa
Enquiries: Louise Lamb 09 427 5212 or 

Waikato Branch Events

Katherine Austin: Classical Interpretation of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven

Saturday 25th July Seminar and Masterclass 1:30pm – 4:30 pm at the Charwell Cooperating Church, 124 Comries Road, Hamilton
Closing date for masterclass participants (students of IRMTNZ Waikato branch members)15th July
Closing date for registrations 20th July.
See Katherine Austin 2020 flyer for programme, fees and masterclass application 

Music Teachers’ Support Group Meetings

The Music Teachers’ Support Group is at present operating by email to support teachers who may have questions/problems/suggestions for managing your pupils at this time. During the Covid-19 lockdown, we shared experiences of online learning and its challenges and the group changed to being an email support group. We will keep this going.
Next meeting: Friday 17th July. If you want to know more please contact Alison Littler

Non-Competitive Festival

Saturday 29 August commencing at 1:30 pm.
Classes are: Best Baroque; Classy Classical; Romantic Rule; Contemporary Cool; Kiwi Composer; Go Jazz; Travellin’ Tunes; Pupils Plus; Family Funtastic; Anything Goes; Be a Movie Star
Entries close 15 August – forms to be emailed to branch members in June. 
all performances will be appraised and all performers will receive a certificate.

Other Branch Events

Wednesday 22 July – morning tea for Retired members, hosted by the Committee
Sunday 2 August 4:00 pm – “Cushion Concert” for teenagers to be held at Alison Littler’s home
Friday 25 September – social event at Elaine Horn’s home
Tuesday 20 October – Adult Students’ Performance Evening
Sunday 1 November – Student Concert
Saturday 7 November – Presentation by Stephen de Pledge – more details to follow
Friday 27 November – end of year luncheon

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 Meeting

Friday 17 July 9:30 am coffee; 10 am meeting
Topic: Inspiring our Students to Perform
5 Doneraille Place, Bethleham (park on Orange Lane)
This is open to all music teachers (not just IRMT members). A gold coin donation would be much appreciated. 
RSVP to Adele Dickinson by 15th July.

High Achievers / All Grades Concert

Saturday 8 August 4:00pm at Wesley Church, 13th Avenue, Tauranga
If you have any confident students that would be interested in performing at this concert, please contact Kathy Stewart by Friday 31st July with student’s name; name of piece they are going to play, and the composer. 
Cash only door fee Family $8; Adult $4; Child $2

IRMT Scholarship Senior and Junior

Saturday 5 September.
Entries close 1 August. Adjudicator: Paul Ellery
Start times cannot be confirmed until entries are closed, but the Junior section will be held before the Senior section. 
Scholarship day is a special day for our branch as it offers not only a competition opportunity for all students to work towards during the year but also an opportunity to play in an adjudicated situation which is great experience for students sitting exams. 
Entry forms and scholarship rules available from

Cushion Concert

Saturday 19 September at 2pm. Cost is $5 per performer, audience free. 
RSVP Robyn Buxton by 17th September. 

Upcoming Events

Melody Deng Workshop – Melody’s workshop last year on the book Fit4Piano that she helped Rae de Lisle write was so well received we have invited Melody back early Term 4 to do another workshop. This time on games (practical and online) and other material she uses to support/teach her music students. Date to be confirmed. 

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

Facebook page

Institute of Registered Music Teachers Rotorua

Hawkes Bay Branch

Upcoming Events

26 July – JS Bach-athon
15 August – Branch scholarships
5 September – Young Musician of the Year Preliminaries
18 September – Young Musician of the Year Final
19 September – Masterclass
5 December – Examiners’ Choice Concert

Gisborne sub Branch Events

Taranaki Branch Events

Taranaki Branch AGM

Sunday 21 June 1:30 pm at the home of Elaine Schreiber. (RSVP for address.)
The AGM will be followed by High Tea. Please bring a plate. 

Branch Recitals 

Remaining Dates:
Friday 11 Sept 7 pm
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.

Young Musician 2020

Our annual Young Musician awards aim to encourage excellence and raise standards; celebrate our most talented students and share the joy of music. Adjudicator: Robert Ibell (Wellington).
Saturday 19 September 7pm at St Andrew’s Church, Liardet Street, New Plymouth
There are 2 categories:
– Senior years 11-13 at school and up to age 21, recital maximum 16 minutes
– Junior up to year 10 at school, recital maximum 10 minutes
Students will be required to present a balanced programme. 

For further details please contact Cathy Martin 

Manawatu Branch Events

IRMT Junior Medal and Intermediate Competitions

Sunday 2 August (whole day) at Freyberg High School
Closing date: 3rd July for Junior/Intermediate Piano and Duets; 4th July for Junior/Intermediate Instrumental & Vocal

IRMT Chamber Music Competition

Sunday afternoon 9 August at Palmerston North Girls High School
Closing date: Friday 24 July

Senior Piano and Instrumental Scholarships

Saturday 19 September, Evelyn Rawlins Room
Closing date: Saturday 5 September

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

OrganPower (Roy Tankersley, organ)

Wednesdays 12:15 pm at Palmerston North Central Baptist Church
12 August: “Soaring Vistas”
14 October: “Spring with Peaches and Cream”
9 December: “An Upside down Christmas”

OrganPower Plus Sundays 2:30pm at St Peter’s Church, Ruahine Street
Sunday 13 September: Sasha Routh, Cello
Sunday 8 November: Ingrid Vlieg, Clarinet

Wellington Branch Events

Check our Upcoming Events at http://irmtwellington.org.nz/upcoming-events/

Sonata Celebration

Sunday 13 September, in collaboration with the NZSM

Piano Plus Festival & Recital Competition 2020

Postponed until later in the year (possibly late August or September)

Wellington Piano and Instrumental Group (WPIG)

Provides inexpensive opportunities for students to perform in public, in a semi-formal, friendly atmosphere. Concerts last about one hour followed by light refreshments.
St Paul’s Lutheran Church 12 King Street Mt Cook (off Adelaide Road, near Pizza Hut).
Please note that remaining concerts are in abeyance until further notice. 

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.

2020 International Young Artists Festival

The 2020 New Zealand International Young Artists Festival website is live now: www.nziyaf.com. All IRMT teachers are welcome to participate in the festival public
events, free of charge! Students who are interested can enter online at the website.
Monday 20th January is Piano Celebration Day, featuring various piano events with a concert in the Adam concert Room.
The organisers would love to invite IRMT teachers and students to perform at the concert. See the website for more details!

Christchurch Branch Events

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

Dunedin Musical Society

The next events is August 16th. This is open for anyone to attend. There are approximately 6 sessions a year on a Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:30 pm with a programmed recital organised well before the date. The recital lasts about one hour. This is for adults and performers who are at a high standard. Anyone wishing to perform in this should contact Velma Martin. 

For student recitals, no programme is organised and anyone can turn up and play. Names are taken on the day.
Teenagers 3:45 pm; Juniors 4 pm
They follow each other with little or no break in between. When students arrive names are taken and they can go through into the church and listen.

Charges: $2 adults. Children, performers and members are free. Members pay a yearly subscription of $15.

Otago Registered Music Teacher Facebook Page

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.