NZSO a big part of Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts 

The NZSO begins 2026 in spectacular fashion, performing in four major events at the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington. 

On 07 March, the Michael Fowler Centre becomes TEIWA, an immersive world of tribal futurism created by Platinum‑selling, Silver Scroll‑winning artist Rob Ruha. Joined by his band, kapa haka powerhouse TOA (Te Taumata O Apanui), and the full force of the NZSO, Ruha blends mesmerising waiata with stadium‑sized anthems. The result is a thrilling celebration of whakapapa, innovation and the pulse of modern Aotearoa—and an evening you’ll never forget. 

For a fresh take on an old favourite, experience the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s bold reimagining of Macbeth (25–28 Feb). Choreographer Alice Topp propels Shakespeare’s power‑hungry couple into a modern world of media manipulation and corporate ambition. Macbeth’s intensity is driven by Christopher Gordon’s score, performed by an NZSO string octet under Principal Conductor‑in‑Residence Hamish McKeich, adding a visceral musical edge to this high‑octane contemporary ballet. This exhilarating production is also performed in Auckland (4-7 Mar), Dunedin (13-14 Mar) and Christchurch (18-21 Mar)  

Gloria – A Triple Bill (12–14 Mar) brings together the New Zealand Dance Company and Co3 Contemporary Dance Australia to honour legendary choreographer Douglas Wright. His iconic Gloria, last seen at the Festival in 1992, returns in a major cultural moment. Set to Vivaldi’s radiant sacred score, performed live by the NZSO and Voices New Zealand, the work bursts with joy, flight and emotional power. The programme also includes Raewyn Hill’s contemplative A Moving Portrait and Moss Patterson’s evocative Lament. 

Our Festival run concludes the NZSO’s appearances with Ara Hura (15 Mar), a tribute to influential choral conductor Karen Grylls. Voices New Zealand, taonga pūoro artist Horomona Horo, leading instrumentalists and an NZSO chamber ensemble unite for a programme featuring Robert Wiremu’s acclaimed Re‑imagined Mozart: Erebus, alongside works by Leonie Holmes, Takerei Komene, and waiata by Ngāpō and Pimia Wehi.  

Marking Grylls’ final appearance as Music Director, Ara Hura is a powerful celebration of her artistry and legacy. 

Superstar violinist makes Aotearoa New Zealand debut with NZSO in March

International violin sensation María Dueñas makes her Aotearoa debut with NZSO in Wellington and Christchurch on 26 and 28 March. 

At just 23, the Spanish virtuoso has become one of the most sought‑after violinists in the world, praised for her dazzling technique and magnetic stage presence. 

Dueñas, who won the prestigious Menuhin Competition for Young Violinists at just 18, features in the NZSO concerts From the New World, led by chart-topping Venezuelan conductor Rodolfo Barráez, also making his New Zealand debut. 

In 2025 Dueñas won Gramophone magazine’s coveted Young Artist of the Year, following sensational performances at Austria’s renowned Salzburg Festival and New York’s Carnegie Hall.  

The New York Times says stunned silence is common at her concerts, where audiences witness “a strong-willed young artist with something to say, and the skill to say it brilliantly.” 

In January she made her much-anticipated debut with the New York Philharmonic playing Beethoven’s beloved Violin Concerto, which Dueñas will also perform with the NZSO. 

Critics praised her interpretation of Beethoven as “completely mesmerising…she displayed total technical mastery, poetic sensitivity and a distinctive creative voice.” 

“I think it was the violin that chose me,” Dueñas has said about her instrument. 

“It was like a passion. I was a very introverted child, so I feel like it was a way of talking, of expressing myself through music.” 

Maestro Barráez has conducted and recorded with the world’s top orchestras. In 2024 his live recording with the Singapore Symphony reached No.1 on the Apple Music (Worldwide) Classical Music chart, No. 4 on the UK Official Specialist Classical Music chart and No. 6 on the US Billboard Traditional Classic Music chart. 

From the New World also features unforgettable performances of one of the most popular symphonies ever written: Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 From the New World, and acclaimed New Zealand composer Eve De Castro-Robinson’s mesmerising Aurora, a fanfare of birdsong and momentum. 

Dvořák wrote his New World Symphony after arriving in the US, capturing both the vastness of the landscape and the longing for his Czech homeland. The sheer physical impact of a full orchestra performing this music is something that can only be felt live. 

De Castro-Robinson’s music often draws on the natural world, environmental themes, and the emotional geography of Aotearoa. Hearing Aurora performed by the national orchestra will add another dimension: the sense of a cultural conversation happening in real time between composer, musicians, and audience. 

Festival spectacular Gloria – FREE technical dress rehearsal for schools 

Secondary schools can now secure their places for a special free technical dress rehearsal in Wellington of Gloria – A Triple Bill on 12 March, featuring the NZSO.  This rare opportunity offers students a chance to witness a major arts production before opening night. 

This powerful programme restages the late Douglas Wright’s iconic Gloria, set to Vivaldi’s radiant sacred score. Presented by The New Zealand Dance Company and Co3 Contemporary Dance Australia, with live music from the NZSO and Voices New Zealand, the rehearsal reveals how movement, music and staging come together in a world‑class performance environment. 

It’s an exceptional opportunity for ākonga to experience a landmark work in Aotearoa’s dance history, a collaboration between dancers, orchestra and choir and big ideas explored through performance: resilience, the cycle of life, risk and human expression.   

Book now as places are limited and demand is high. Email schools@festival.nz 

Experience something greater in 2026 – book now! 

Woo-hoo! Our 2026 Season is here, and it’s one of the most exciting lineups your national orchestra has ever unveiled.  

With more than 40 concerts across 15 centres from Auckland to Dunedin, 2026 is the perfect time to become an NZSO Member and experience an extraordinary year of music. 

Anyone can become a member for as little as $10 a year (Lite) for the best discounts and more to enjoy the NZSO. 

Our season features a dazzling roster of international stars and homegrown talent, including singer-songwriter superstar Bic Runga in April. GRAMMY® Award‑winning violinist James Ehnes makes his NZSO debut performing Korngold’s Violin Concerto under NZSO Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New, who leads four major programmes including Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony in Wellington and Dunedin. Celebrated pianist Sir Stephen Hough returns to perform Saint‑Saëns’ Egyptian Piano Concerto, alongside the world premiere of Ross Harris’ Concerto for Orchestra. 

Two of the world’s most sought‑after young musicians also make their Aotearoa debuts. Spanish violin sensation María Dueñas opens the season with Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, while British pianist Isata Kanneh‑Mason performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 and gives a solo recital in Auckland. Rising New Zealand star Shan Liu, just 15, joins the orchestra for Prokofiev’s thrilling Third Piano Concerto. 

Other highlights include the Aotearoa New Zealand debut of Dutch trombone virtuoso Jörgen van Rijen, two programmes led by Finnish maestro Pietari Inkinen, Sir Donald Runnicles conducting Brahms and Strauss with soprano Madeleine Pierard and our monumental collaboration with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra in May for Mahler’s Second Symphony Resurrection. The year concludes with a Summer Tour to the regions of French and Italian Baroque delights and Handel’s Messiah under Erin Helyard. 

NZSO and DSO unite for massive musical experience in May

The NZSO and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra come together this May for an unforgettable musical event featuring 120 musicians and a 150‑voice choir.  

The one‑night‑only performance at Dunedin Town Hall on 15 May is a centrepiece of the NZSO’s 2026 Otago season, which includes five concerts across Dunedin, Oamaru and Queenstown. 

This landmark collaboration celebrates the DSO’s 60th anniversary, with both orchestras performing side by side for Mahler’s monumental Second Symphony, Resurrection and the world premiere of Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie’s Fanfare Kotahitanga, commissioned by the NZSO. 

NZSO Chief Executive Marc Feldman says the partnership marks a special moment for both orchestras and the city. Mahler’s Resurrection is widely regarded as one of the greatest symphonies ever written, ranked among the top five of all time by both Classic FM and BBC Music Magazine. 

The performance will be led by internationally renowned conductor James Judd, the NZSO’s Music Director Emeritus, who is also the DSO’s Principal Guest Conductor. Joining him are acclaimed soprano Anna Leese, mezzo‑soprano Deborah Humble, and the 150‑member City Choir Dunedin. 

Ritchie’s new Fanfare Kotahitanga will spotlight the combined brilliance of the NZSO and DSO brass sections, opening the concert with a powerful statement of unity. 

Later in the year, the NZSO returns to Otago with Serenade, featuring NZSO Principal Cello Andrew Joyce and conductor Tianyi Lu in Oamaru (20 Oct), Dunedin (21 Oct) and Queenstown (22 Oct). The 2026 season concludes with Beethoven’s mighty Ninth Symphony in Dunedin on 21 November, with NZSO Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New and featuring City Choir Dunedin and opening with Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead’s Hoata. 

NZSO Foundation launches a new-look Encore Bequest programme 

Music builds community, memories and well-being.  From the NZSO’s extraordinarily talented players to the orchestra’s popular education programmes and life-changing Masterclasses for young musicians, the NZSO Foundation provides crucial support to Aotearoa New Zealand music.  

The Foundation is now excited to launch a new-look Encore Bequest programme to continue its support of the NZSO and our future music stars.   

The NZSO Foundation is committed to securing the long-term financial security, stability and development of the orchestra through careful stewardship and expertise.    

Bequests are invested in the Foundation’s endowment fund which is actively managed by JB Were.  Through strong governance, Trustees will help donors shape a gift that supports future generations of music lovers and musicians nationwide.   

For a copy of the NZSO Foundation’s bequest brochure, contact philanthropy@nzso.co.nz.

Take a Seat in the newly restored Wellington Town Hall  

We’re excited to announce the launch of the Take a Seat campaign — your chance to be part of the next chapter of Wellington Town Hall and the National Music Centre. 

Together with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, we’re inviting New Zealanders to play a lasting role in this transformational project by naming a seat in the Twon Hall’s beautifully restored Adam Auditorium. Chairholders will be recognised in the heart of a world‑class venue that will soon welcome extraordinary performances, civic celebrations, and inspiring educational experiences. 

This campaign marks the final stage of fundraising for the National Music Centre, an ambitious partnership between the NZSO, Wellington City Council, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī. 

Through music, performance, and education, we are revitalising Te Ngākau Civic Square and strengthening Wellington’s identity as a city of creativity, talent, and artistic ambition. The National Music Centre will open new opportunities for the NZSO to share music, expand pathways for students to learn and create, and foster deeper collaboration between the orchestra and the School of Music. 

At its heart stands Wellington’s iconic Town Hall — reopening in February 2027 after years of careful restoration as a renewed, welcoming home for unforgettable experiences. 

By naming a seat, you’ll join a community of supporters who understand the vital role the arts play in enriching lives, strengthening Wellington, and shaping the cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Now is the perfect moment to secure your seat before the campaign goes public. 

Make a gift to the National Music Centre today. As a Chairholder in the Adam Auditorium, you’ll help shape the future of New Zealand music. 

Mark Waitangi Day with an NZSO performance online and on air! 

Thanks to our friends at SOUNZ and RNZ Concert, wherever you are in Aotearoa New Zealand on Waitangi Day, you and your whānau can enjoy a very special family-friendly performance by the NZSO, featuring our Animateur Chris Lam Sam and mesmerising visual artist Marcus Winter aka “The Sandman”. 

The NZSO, Chris and Marcus will present acclaimed composer Jeremy Mayall’s Ngā Tohu o te Taiao at 1pm on Waitangi Day. Marcus creates stunning visuals using sand during the performance which are shown on a big screen. 

You can watch the film on SOUNZ’s YouTube channel or tune in to RNZ Concert. Either way, your whānau will love every minute of this magical recorded performance. 

Beethoven to The Beatles—share your Wellington Town Hall memories

It’s just 12 months until the strengthened and fully refurbished Wellington Town Hall opens to the public. The NZSO can’t wait to perform again in this world-class performance venue at the heart of the new National Music Centre for the NZSO and Victoria University of Wellington’s New Zealand School of Music (NZSM). 

The Town Hall will also be home to the NZSO’s state-of-the-art recording studios—the most advanced facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. 

As we count down the days to this momentous opening, the NZSO and NZSM invite you to share your memories of the iconic Town Hall.  All stories are welcome—the funny, the sublime, the sad and the strange! 

We’ve already got a fantastic collection of memories, but we’d love to hear more about what the Town Hall means to you. Visit My Town Hall to browse the collection of memories and send on your own submission.