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Masterclasses

Every year the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra offers masterclasses and workshops with visiting guest artists.

These are usually available to those students playing at Dunedin Youth Orchestra or University level, or to professional musicians.

Previously, masterclasses have been offered with internationally renowned artists like violinist Shlomo Mintz, clarinetist Michael Collins, Berlin Philharmonic concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley, Sydney Symphony Orchestra cellist and conductor Umberto Clerici, and NZSO Principal Timpani Laurence Reese and NZSO Principal Percussion Leonard Sakofsky.

Student Composers Workshop

DSO proudly partners with the University of Otago to present our annual Composers Workshop.

Promising young student composers have the opportunity to have one of their orchestral works rehearsed, performed and recorded by the DSO, under the baton of an experienced conductor and with the mentorship of senior composition lecturers. This workshop, unique among New Zealand's regional orchestras, allows the young composer the chance to both hear their work played by a real, live orchestra, and to benefit from the feedback of vastly experienced musicians and senior composers. Many alumni of this workshop, like Maddy Parkins-Craig, Cameron Monteath, Abhinath Berry, and Tom Jensen, have also gone on to have their work performed and/or recorded by the NZSO, National Youth Orchestra, and other groups around New Zealand and the world.