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

Upcoming Events

All at Cafler Suite, Forum North

Sunday 15 Nov   – IRMT Mini Recitals, Old Library
Sunday 29 Nov – IRMT Soiree
Sunday 13 Dec   – IRMT Christmas Concert

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

New Zealand Junior Piano Competition (NZJPC) Performances

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
Next date: 14 November
Enquiries: Sharon Martin 09 528 3878 or 

Eastern – Howick Children’s Youth Theatre, 29 Granger Road, Howick   
Next date: 4pm Saturday 31 October
Enquiries: Susan Theron 021 0291 272 or

Mediant – St Cuthbert’s College Performing Arts Centre, Room 203  Market Road, Epsom
Next date: 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
7 November – Orewa Baptist Church, Loop Road, Orewa
Enquiries: Louise Lamb 09 427 5212 or 

Waikato Branch Events

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 meetings:
Friday 9th October at Mealmates Cafe 303 Clarkin Road at 10:30 am. 
Thursday 5th November – venue to be decided
If you want to know more please contact Alison Littler

Adult Students Performance Evening

Tuesday 20 October at 7:30 pm at Judy Utting’s house.
This is a great opportunity for your adult students to perform and hear others performing also. All levels/genres.
For further information, contact Judy.

Workshop with Stephen de Pledge

Saturday 7 November, to be run in two parts:
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm NZ composers
2:30 pm to 3:00 pm Afternoon tea
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Improvisation

Other Branch Events

1st November – Student Concert
27th November – End of year lunch

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

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

Rotorua Music Federation Concert

Thursday 1st October at 7:30 pm at Harvest Centre, 324 Malfroy Road, Rotorua.
New Zealand Trio, Amalia Hall (violin); Ashley Brown (cello); Smi Kim (piano)
Programme includes music by Beethoven, Ravel and Kriztos Hatzis.

Social Get Together for Branch Members

Wednesday 7th October at The Good Eastern (Corner of Te Ngae and Tarawera Roads), parking available directly off Tarawera Road. Meet from 11:30 am for lunch at midday.
If you are keen to get together with fellow branch members during the school holidays, please RSVP to Claire Mason by 25th September. 

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

Adult Performers’ Group – possibly Wednesday 14th October and Wednesday 11th November. This event may recommence if the branch’s piano is returned to St. Chad’s by our technician in time, and if we remain at Alert Level 2 or lower. An email will be sent to branch members and supporters if this event is reinstated in October and/or November. 

Technology Tips for Online Learning – are members interested in a one-hour Sunday afternoon session in Rotorua with a technician to discuss technical issues relating specifically to online teaching? Please email your interest to Claire Mason by Thursday 17th September. If there is sufficient interest in this opportunity, we can purse this further. 

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

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
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 8 November: Ingrid Vlieg, Clarinet

Wellington Branch Events

Wellington Piano and Instrumental Group (WPIG)

St Paul’s Lutheran Church 12 King Street Mt Cook (off Adelaide Road, near Pizza Hut).
Remaining dates:
Sunday 1 November 3pm – Christmas Magic – Contact Helen Pollock or Masako Simizu-Beesting

The 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.
Submission and Rules: Teachers or parents should give item details to a convenor at least 10 days prior to a concert, otherwise a space cannot be guaranteed. The maximum time limit is 15 minutes per teacher’s submission and 8 minutes per student. If a student needs to be in a particular place in the programme, please let the convenor know when submitting your item. Otherwise, please stay for the entire concert as a courtesy to all performers. No photography without permission. Avoid use of photocopies. 

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

Competitions Weekend 17-18 October 

IRMTNZ Recital Competition: Saturday 17 October 2pm, UC Recital Room, Hereford Street
Adjudicator: John van Buskirk from Dunedin
Three categories of entry: Piano; Instrumental; Vocal.
First prize in each category of $200.
Students must be aged between 13 and 18 years old and at secondary school. They are asked to present a 10 minute recital. 

Ruby Hay Competition: Sunday 18 October 2pm, UC Recital Room, Hereford Street
First prize $1000
Entry closing date is 2nd October at 5 pm
Door sales: $20 adults; Students under 15 years $5

Term 4 Events

Resource sharing afternoon – Saturday 7 November 2:30 pm
Mature Students Recital – Sunday 29 November, 7 pm, venue TBC

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 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.