New Chief Executive for CMNZ

The CMNZ Board announces with great pleasure that Gretchen La Roche has been appointed as the new Chief Executive for CMNZ. Board Chair, Kerrin Vautier, says that “Gretchen brings artistic and chief executive experience in the arts sector that will be of considerable value in charting CMNZ’s future strategies and representing the organization at national, regional and local levels”.

Gretchen is currently Chief Executive and Artistic Manager of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and has led its revitalisation over the past eight years during a period of unprecedented circumstances. Most of Gretchen’s career has been serving the music sector – as a professional musician, a University Lecturer in clarinet performance, in advisory roles with Creative New Zealand, in governance roles and as a leader in the arts sector.

“I feel extremely proud to take up the role of Chief Executive with CMNZ”, says Gretchen. “I have had a long association with the organisation, as a past competitor and adjudicator of the Chamber Music Contest and also as a touring artist. I am deeply committed to ensuring that chamber music continues to have a strong future in Aotearoa and look forward to working with the Board and staff to develop new programmes and initiatives for audiences throughout the motu.”

Gretchen will take up her new position on 23 August. Kerrin Vautier says that “we very much look forward to welcoming Gretchen to her new role with CMNZ and to working with her in furthering the reach of chamber music in New Zealand.” She added that “we are absolutely delighted that Gretchen will be applying her skills, experience, and considerable enthusiasm to this next phase of CMNZ’s development”.