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.

IRMT Conference

We hold an annual conference at various places around New Zealand. The 2018 conference in Hamilton “Pathways to Performance” was held 18-21 January.

2019 Conference 

Southern Themes and Variations
21-25 January 2019
St Margaret’s College, Otago University, Dunedin
Hosted by the Otago Branch in association with IRMTNZ Council
Refer to this Conference Flyer for details. For queries and further information, email

Northland Branch Events

Upcoming Events

Sat 15 – Sun 16 Sep NPA Competition (Instrumental)
Fri 21 – Sun 23 Sep NPA Competition (Vocal Senior)
Sunday 28 October Mini Recitals
Saturday 10 November Soiree
Sunday 2 December Christmas Concert

Kerikeri International Piano Competition 

26 – 30 September at Turner Centre
See website for more details

IRMT Northland Branch 50th Anniversary – save the date

February 9th 2019
11am: Luncheon at Distinction Hotel
3pm: Free Concert at Forum North

Auckland Branch Events

Auckland Branch Scholarships Weekend: Sep 7-9 2018 

Entries have now closed. The 2018 adjudicators are:
Piano – Sarah Watkins
Woodwind – Ben Hoadley
Vocal – Emma Sloman
Strings – Shelagh Thomson

Auckland Teachers Forum

 Auckland Branch ran the first of its Teaching Forums in February hosted by Susan Smith and Fiona Bygrave. Excitingly, we now have many more new, young and innovative teachers joining the Institute, so  are hosting what we would like to think is the beginning of many more 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
24 November
Enquiries: Melody Deng  

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

Eastern – Old Star of the Sea, 29 Granger Road, Howick   4pm Saturdays
22 September; 3 November 
Enquiries: Lynda McDonald 09 950 1986 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, Wood St, Papakura  $5 per family
20 October (4:30 pm); 24 November (4:30 pm)
Enquiries: Gina Sanders/Fleur Chee

Hibiscus Coast
Sat 10 November at Stella Maris School Hall Silverdale
Enquiries: Louise Lamb 09 427 5212 or  

Waikato Branch Events

Music Teachers Support Group

A support group for music teachers who meet a few times each year on an informal basis to share ideas about teaching practice. Experienced teachers welcome to share their skills with less experienced ones. 
Next Meeting: Thursday 11 October at 10am – RSVP and contact  for details. Bring your Health and Safety Policy if you want to, and lots of other ideas to discuss.

A “Music Patchwork” 

Sunday 16th September, 1:30 – 5 pm Chartwell Church, 24 Comries Rd, Hamilton
The following topics will be covered:
  – The Art of Accompanying
  – Hamilton Competitions Society (Piano Convenor Peter Gillies will be speaking)
  – Improvisation
  – Aural Work

Mature Student Performance Group

30th October – more details to follow

Christmas Lunch

7th December – more details to follow

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 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

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

Rotorua & Taupo Branch

Adult Performers Evenings

Remaining dates for 2018:  14th November
St Chad’s Communication Centre, corner Devon and Fenton Streets, commencing at 7:30pm (no entry to building before 7:15)
New performers are welcome, you do not need to be a branch member.
The only criteria is that performers are at least 15 years old and that items are a reasonable performance standard and no longer than 8-9 minutes.
Door entry $3 per person whether performing or audience support
Contact convenor with your items by Sunday midday before the event

Rotorua Cushion Concert

Friday 14 September at St Luke’s Church, scheduled to start at 6:30 pm and conclude at 8:00 pm
$5 per family
Entries to by 7 September – please include title, length, grade, student name and discipline

Taupo Cushion Concert

Saturday 23 September at St Andrew’s Church, concert start time 2:00 pm
$3 per family
Entries to by Saturday 15 September. Performers may present one solo item, plus group item and an original composition. (Please provide a score for original composition.)

Hawkes Bay Branch

Young Musician of the Year Dates

Preliminaries – 15th September

Finals – 21st September

Taranaki Branch Events

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Electronic Media with David Codd – date TBC
Further details to be advised

Taranaki Branch Student Recitals

All recitals are held at St Andrew’s on Liardet, New Plymouth.
Entry is by gold coin donation – performers free and go in the draw to win the day’s ‘Lucky Draw’.

Friday 21 Sept 7.30pm – Convenor 
Sunday 9 Dec 1:30 pm – Convenor

Young Musician of the Year Award

28 October 7pm
4th Wall Theatre, Baring Terrace, New Plymouth
With adjudicator Rosemary Bromley
This is our gala event of the year and with 9 contestants, promises to be an entertaining and enjoyable evening.

Chamber Music New Zealand Concerts

Piers Lane, Hiroshi Ikematsu and members of NZSQ,Tue 9 October, 7.30pm
See website for more details 

Dame Malvina Major Showcase Concert

22 September, 3pm, Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace

Muriel May Instrumental Scholarship

12 December. For information please contact Susan Case 

Manawatu Branch Events

Piano Competitions

Evelyn Rawlins (Grades 7 and above) /Manawatu IRMT, Junior/Intermediate Medal Grades (up to Grade 7)
Sat/Sun 22/23 September
Closing date for entries is Saturday 1 September

Vocal Competitions

Senior, Junior/Intermediate Medal Grades
Saturday 27 October
Closing date for entries is Saturday 29 September

Globe Sunday Matinee Performances

All at 2:30pm. Admission by donation (recommended minimum donation $5)
23 September – Diana Neild (flute) & Anne-Gaelle Aussiel (harp)
28 October – Duo Tapas (guitar duo)
25 November – Ludwig Treviranus (piano)

Wellington Branch Events

Wellington Piano and Instrumental Group

Remaining 2018 dates, all at 3pm at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 12 King Street, Mt Cook (off Adelaide Road near Pizza Hutt)
Sunday 16 September – Pre-Sonata Competition and Open – contact or
Sunday 4 November – Childrens and Babes-in-Arms and Open – contact or

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.

Christchurch Branch Events

Sounds Good!

Sunday September 23rd 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm Rangi Ruru Girls School
Session 1: 1:30 – 3:00 Orchestral Extracts with Sarah McCracken (Strings) and John Robinson (Wind)
Afternoon tea: 3:00 – 3:30
Session 2: 3:30 – 5:00 Presentation on Sound Recording with Cain Hood
To book, follow the link
For whole aftermoon: Students $15; IRMT members $20; non-IRMT $30
For the recording session only: Student $10; IRMT member $10; non-IRMT $15

IRMT Student Recital

Saturday 27th October 4pm, Rangi Ruru Girls School $5 per family
If you have students who would like to perform, please contact by 22nd October with their name, age and approximate level; and timing for the piece

National Concerto Competition

The 2018/19 National Concerto Competition is an instrumental competition. Entries close Friday 12th October, late entries are accepted until 19th October with additional fee of $10
For more information, see Music Canterbury’s website.

Otago Branch Events

Otago Branch Professional Development: “The Changing World of Music Teaching”

Saturday 15 September Mornington Methodist Church, cnr Galway & Whitby Streets Dunedin
1:30 pm – 3pm: Averil Pierce from Chatbus “Understanding our Students in a Fast Changing World”. Averil is the Founder and CEO of Chatbus in Dunedin, and is passionate about supporting children to reach their potential. With a background of child protection, counselling and kindergarten teaching, she has much to offer in helping teachers understand the pressures and problems many students have to deal with
3pm – 3:30 pm: Afternoon tea 
3:30 pm – 5pm: Barrie Rutledge, Tom McGrath and Kathy Thompson “Using Technology in the Music Studio”. Bring your charged devices and learn some new tricks! Topics covered will be How to use Skype for Remote Lessons; Managing Music on an ipad and Making the Most of Smartphones in Our Teaching
Admission: $20 (cash or cheque only, no EFTPOS)

Otago Branch Secondary Student Scholarship and Composition Competition

Advance Notice:
to be held on the evening of Saturday 3 November at Mornington Methodist Church. Requirements and entry forms to follow next month.

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.

Dunedin Musical Society

16 September at Mornington Methodist Church
$2 for adults; children free
Senior programme 2:30pm; Teenagers 3:45pm; Juniors 4pm

Adult Performers Afternoons

Saturday 10 November at 4pm at the home of Margaret Whitworth ( her for more information)

Southland Regional Events

Grease – the Arena Spectacular

13 Sep –  15 Sep (Thursday/Friday – 7.30pm, Saturday – 2.00pm and 7.30pm)
ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill
“The biggest musical theatre event ever staged in Invercargill” – don’t miss it! More details on events page.

NZSO Classical Hits