The New Zealand Electroacoustic Music Symposium (NZEMS)

International research in the sonic arts has given birth to a range of technologies such as ambisonic recording/diffusion, vector base amplitude panning, wave field synthesis and multichannel spectral diffusion, providing some powerful new tools for electroacoustic composers and performers.

In September 2009 the School of Music hosted a three-day national research symposium focused on eight-channel electroacoustic music, live electroacoustic music and electroacoustic music with moving images. Several of New Zealand’s most prominent Composer/Researchers were in attendance including John Cousins, Chris Cree Brown, Eve de Castro Robinson, John Elmsly, Susan Frykberg, Dugal McKinnon, John Rimmer, and Ian Whalley. International guests included Professor Leigh Landy (De Montfort University) and Gerardo Dirie (Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University).

There were a number of special events associated with the symposium including Gilded Blessing, an interactive installation by Eve de Castro Robinson; Seeing with Ears, video works by John Coulter; a sonic art concert featuring live performances by electroacoustic composers; and a rare opportunity to hear John Cousins presenting his recent 8-channel acousmatic works using a custom-designed 24-channel 'acousmonium'.