Big respect to Rattle, a record company which has been releasing New Zealand recordings ...beyond the regimented lines of classical and contemporary boxes for some years now.
There is a warmth and attractiveness about the whole project, and this extends right throughout every detail..
Together since 2002, NZTrio has been Ensemble in Residence at The University of Auckland since 2004. In addition to teaching and performing at the School of Music, the Trio commissions New Zealand composers and collaborates with musicians of diverse musical styles.
NZTrio has toured extensively in Brazil, the United States, Europe and North Asia, and in 2005 NZTrio released its debut album, Spark through Trust CDs, showcasing a broad range of contemporary New Zealand trio pieces.
In 2007 the Trio featured in the AK07 Festival in March and undertook a Celebrity Tour with Chamber Music NZ in April. The year saw further concerts in Christchurch and Auckland and in August they joined forces with the Auckland Philharmonia to perform Gareth Farr’s Triple Concerto, a dynamic and popular work commissioned by NZTrio, and premiered earlier with the CSO. They finished the year touring Indonesia, Singapore and Australia, showcasing NZ music at the 2007 Arts Summit in Jakarta and the Two Islands Conference/Festival in Brisbane.
This year they released their follow-up album, Bright Tide Moving Between, with Rattle.
Giving substance to the Pacific Rim focus of Bright Tide, NZTrio have played Bejiing (the Modern Music Festival), Shanghai and Hong-Kong.
Ashley Brown, cellist
Formerly the cellist of the Turnovsky Trio, principal cellist of the Auckland Philharmonia, Ashley now enjoys close collaborative relationships with composers and musicians across the spectrum of musical genres. He is also highly acclaimed as a soloist and has performed to international audiences in London, Paris and New York.
Justine Cormack, violinist
The former Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia, played for many years with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, before throwing herself into this tightly focused ensemble. Recognised as a recitalist, chamber musician, adjudicator and concerto soloist, Justine’s myriad awards include a TVNZ Young Achievers Award, a Fulbright Scholarship, and an NZSO Alex Lindsay Memorial Award.
Sarah Watkins, pianist
Performing throughout Japan, England and the United States with some of America’s leading instrumentalists Sarah has maintained a serious commitment to collaborative piano. After 15 years in the USA studying and a staff pianist at Juilliard (where she gained a doctorate), Yale University and the Aspen Music Festival, she returned to New Zealand to join NZTrio full-time.