Announcement of Partnership between CMNZ & GIMC

Following the COVID-19 related reshaping of the 2020 GIMC to include New Zealand musicians only, and subsequent cancellation of the 2021 Competition, the GIMC Board reconsidered the future of the event and determined that it would no longer continue to hold the Competition as such it was timely to rethink, refresh, and reinvigorate the GIMC, while being true to its goals of providing for the advancement of music education in Gisborne and enhancing the educational, experiential, and career opportunities for young musicians.

“Since its inception thirty-three years ago, the GIMC has sought to support New Zealand musicians and to give back to the Gisborne community.Over the years, we have received tremendous support: from people who have volunteered to billet musicians; sponsors and people who have made donations; from the musicians, collaborative pianists, and jurors; and from the wider musical community. We thank you all and are steadfast in continuing to seek ways we can provide a range of music opportunities for the people of our community” explained Dame Bronwen Holdsworth, Chair of the GIMC Trust Board. “For this we have chosen to work with Chamber Music New Zealand (CMNZ), whose vast experience in delivering high-quality, intuitive community engagement programmes throughout the country makes them the ideal partner.”

CMNZ will administer all aspects of the programme on behalf of the GIMC and undertake several initiatives each year that will include workshops, mentoring programmes, music-based residencies, and touring concerts. This will be an initial 3-year partnership from 2022.

“As a national arts organisation we are passionate about providing communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand the opportunities to enjoy a diverse range of music up close experiences” says Kerrin Vautier, Chair of the CMNZ Trust Board. “We are delighted that this partnership with the GIMC enables us to present to the people of Gisborne an array of programmes bespoke to them, reflecting their unique voice and designed for people from all parts of the community”.

Commencing in May 2022, the programme will have three distinct areas of focus – Learn, Create, and Connect – with the intention of delivering benefits to a wide range of participants of all ages and musical experience including people living with disabilities, at-risk youth and students from intermediate, and secondary schools.

Dame Bronwen said that she was delighted to acknowledge that, in this new partnership, the GIMC was in effect coming full circle in that it was started 33 years ago by Ian Dunsmore, father of current CMNZ CEO, Gretchen La Roche.