Te Kōkī | New Zealand School of Music / Creative New Zealand
A fully paid 9-month residency at the historic Lilburn Residence in Wellington for an established NZ composer to write full-time.
The Creative New Zealand/NZSM Composer-in-Residence is one of Aotearoa's most prestigious opportunities for established composers. Running for 39 weeks from 22 March to 19 December 2027, the position is hosted by Te Kōkī – New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington, and comes with a salary of NZ$60,450 (inclusive of 8% holiday pay).
The successful composer will live at the Lilburn Residence in Thorndon, Wellington — the former home of Douglas Lilburn, New Zealand's most celebrated twentieth-century composer — paying a modest rent of around $150 per week. The house sits in an enclave of artist residences including the Rita Angus Cottage and Randell Cottage, a short walk from the NZSM.
The residency is designed to give you uninterrupted time to compose full-time. There are no regular teaching duties, though you'll be welcomed into the life of the NZSM — attending composer workshops, presenting at least one session, engaging informally with staff and students, and potentially curating a concert. You'll have access to practice rooms, recording studios, electroacoustic studios, library resources, and IT support.
Beyond the NZSM, the residency opens doors to Wellington's wider music community. Benefits include access to performers and ensembles who have collaborated with previous composers-in-residence, filming of at least one work by SOUNZ for online dissemination, and in-principle publication of at least one work by Wai-te-ata Music Press.
Eligible applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, must not have previously held this position, and must be free from substantial employment or study commitments during the residency period. Applicants may work in any sound-related genre — classical composition, jazz, sonic art, taonga puoro, sound installation, film scoring, choral composition, and more are all welcome.
Your application will need to include a CV demonstrating peer esteem (awards, festival inclusion, international performances, commissions, reviews) and a Work Proposal outlining what you intend to create during the residency, assessed on artistic quality, originality, ambition, feasibility, and contribution to music culture in Aotearoa.
