Michelle Walsh to lead CMNZ into the future
"Music has consistently been a cornerstone of my life, and I am absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to take on the role of CEO for this prestigious music organisation. My passion lies in forging pathways for people across Aotearoa to savor the finest live music experiences, be it through our concert tours or community engagement initiatives.”
Michelle became a part of CMNZ in 2022, serving as the Head of Marketing & Development, bringing with her 13 years of experience in a similar capacity with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Before venturing into the arts sector, she cultivated her career in marketing, communications and brand management, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with a diverse range of experience spanning not-for-profit and corporate sectors.
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50 Years of Avant-Garde Sound
For half a century, New Zealand’s legendary and most adventurous contemporary chamber music ensemble, From Scratch, have created performances where sound, image, and invention collide.
Passing the Torch
In the middle of her daughter Emily’s performance in the Otago District Rounds of the Chamber Music Contest, Philippa Fotheringham’s Garmin watch told her that her heartrate was abnormally high.
I is for Innovation
“Music is a universal language. Even if some of the [students] are non-verbal, or they can’t see, music is a language you can speak with them.” - Toby, Awatapu College music student
CMNZ Fundraiser: Te Mana o te Puoro
Chamber Music New Zealand will host a fundraising event in Auckland on Thursday 6 November 2025 to raise vital funds for our Community Engagement programme. The event will spotlight the impact of our work in communities across Aotearoa and offer a powerful, personal experience of chamber music and its capacity to connect.
CMNZ Welcomes Two New Trustees
Chamber Music New Zealand is excited to welcome two new trustees, Barbara Salazar and Gabriel Kirkwood, to its board. Both bring a wealth of professional expertise and a deep passion for music, strengthening CMNZ’s commitment to diverse leadership and the arts community.
Creativity, Atua, and Digital Technology - a spotlight on Mai Te Uira
“No one has a crystal ball. It’s going to [be] a whole new bizarre world in the next 50 to 100 years, and we’re just only at the tip of it. It’s exciting for me as a Māori artist to explore the influence that AI has on indigenous cultures.” ~ Tiki Taane
