Composer-in-Residence

• Do you have a distinctive creative voice and a commitment to artistic excellence?
• Can you work independently and maintain a focused compositional practice over an extended period?
• Are you an established composer or sonic artist with a proven track record of substantial and sustained creative activity?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Composer-in-Residence to join Te Kōkī - New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) on a 9-month, fixed-term contract

Applicants for the Creative New Zealand/Te Kōkī - New Zealand School of Music Composer-in-Residence at the Lilburn Residence should be established composers working in any genre (including sonic arts, jazz composition, soundtrack composition, classical composition, taonga puoro composition, etc) who have a track record of sustained, substantial compositional activity over a period of years.

The successful candidate will be housed at the Lilburn Residence, the former home of Douglas Lilburn ONZ, in Thorndon, Wellington. A small rental covers basic maintenance and some utilities.

The position is jointly funded by Creative New Zealand, Lilburn Residence Trust (LRT) donors and the NZSM Composer-in-Residence Endowment Fund, with the NZSM and LRT acting as host organisations. This position fosters and develops the New Zealand musical landscape by:

• Providing an established composer with the opportunity to write full-time for the period of tenure.
• Facilitating greater engagement between the resident composer, the academic communities at NZSM/VUW, the Thorndon arts precinct, and the wider Wellington arts community.
• Providing numerous professional development, networking and collaboration opportunities to a creative artist.

Key responsibilities:

• The appointee will be expected to devote the residency period primarily to creative work, contributing meaningfully to the New Zealand musical/sonic landscape.
• While there are no formal teaching obligations, engagement with Te Kōkī - New Zealand School of Music community (staff and students) is encouraged.
• Reside at the Lilburn Residence in Thorndon, Wellington, for the duration of the residency (with short absences permitted), maintaining respect for the historical and cultural significance of the house.
• Engagement with the Thorndon arts community and with the wider Wellington arts communities is also encouraged.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

Applicants must be established composers/sonic artists of proven merit, with a track record of substantial and sustained creative activity spanning a period of years. Creative output may be in any sound-related field, including, but not limited to, classical composition, jazz composition, sonic art, taonga puoro composition, sound installation practice, film scoring and choral composition.

Applicants must not be studying as a university student during the period of the residency and should not be employed in a permanent or substantial fixed-term role with any other employer during the period of the residency (one-off third-party contracts particularly of a musical nature, such as gigs, festivals, tours, commissions, etc., are acceptable).

Key requirements:

• A strong track record of sustained and substantial compositional activity over a number of years.
• A distinctive creative voice and a commitment to artistic excellence.
• Able to work independently and maintain a focused compositional practice over an extended period.
• Willing to share ideas and engage with the NZSM/VUW community and beyond.
• Open to informal mentoring, discussion, and public engagement opportunities.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page.

Close date for vacancy: 9 October 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Michael Norris (michael.norris@vuw.ac.nz).

Please also see accompanying document:

• Instructions for Applicants CNZ NZSM Composer-in-Residence 2027.

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.