AWE FESTIVAL
Commissions

Our commitment to the creation and performance of music from Aotearoa New Zealand sits at the very heart of AWE every year.

Each festival, new works are commissioned from our Composer in Residence and Emerging Composer, in addition to a growing number of co-commissions with international partners.

Beyond AWE in Aotearoa New Zealand, we proudly feature our commissions within our international performances and events.

AWE 2025

John Psathas
Composer in Residence

  • The Jagged Stone for double cello string quintet

  • The Fall for two violins

Lauren Doherty
Emerging Composer

  • Setting Suns for string quartet

    Mentored by John Psathas

AWE 2024

Eve de Castro-Robinson (NZ)
Composer in Residence

  • Earth’s Eye for clarinet, violin, viola and cello

    SOUNZ video from premiere within AWE 2024

  • Bird Sung Sky for two violins

    SOUNZ video from AWE 2024

Estella Wallace (NZ)
Emerging Composer

  • Lonely Peaks for string quartet

    Mentored by Eve de Castro-Robinson
    SOUNZ video from premiere within AWE 2024

Huw Watkins (UK)

  • String Trio No.2 for violin, viola and cello, Co-Commission with Penarth Chamber Music Festival, UK

    Video from Guarneri Hall, Chicago in 2025

AWE 2023

Victoria Kelly (NZ)
Composer in Residence

  • Ensemble for horn, violin and cello

    SOUNZ video of premiere within AWE 2023

  • Waraki for two violins

Georgina Palmer (NZ)
Emerging Composer

  • Maramataka for horn, violin and cello

    Mentored by Salina Fisher
    SOUNZ video of premiere within AWE 2023

Nicola LeFanu (UK)

  • After Farrera for horn, violin and cello, Co-Commission with the Vaughan Williams Foundation (UK)

AWE 2022

Gareth Farr (NZ)
Composer in Residence

  • Four Postcards From The Lakes for violin and cello

    Video from Guarneri Hall, Chicago 2023

AWE 2021

Salina Fisher (NZ)
Composer in Residence

  • Mata-Au for violin, viola and cello

    Video recorded at Guarneri Hall, Chicago in 2022