Atoll Records

Last updated

Atoll Records
Parent companyAtoll Records Ltd
Founded1997;26 years ago (1997)
FounderWayne Laird
Distributor(s)Wyastone Estate
Genre Classical
Country of origin New Zealand
Location Auckland
Official website www.atoll.co.nz

Atoll Records is a New Zealand record label dedicated to classical, historical and contemporary music. [1]

Contents

About

Atoll Records was established by composer and producer Wayne Laird in 1997. Based in Auckland, the label records primarily in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington with additional recordings being made in the UK and Ireland. The catalogue of approximately one hundred CDs features contemporary solo musicians such as Michael Houstoun, Santiago Canon-Valencia and historical musicians such as Richard Farrell and Oscar Natska. Ensembles, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, New Zealand Chamber Soloists and New Zealand String Quartet all feature strongly within the label as do New Zealand's leading composers, Gillian Whitehead, Jack Body, Michael F. Williams (composer), Gareth Farr and John Psathas. Atoll CDs are available in New Zealand, the UK, North America, across Europe and in parts of Asia.

In 2014 Atoll Records entered into an exclusive worldwide manufacturing and distribution agreement with Wyastone Estate, home of Nimbus Records.

Atoll artists

Selected composers

Selected ensembles

Awards

Related Research Articles

The music of New Zealand has been influenced by a number of traditions, including Māori music, the music introduced by European settlers during the nineteenth century, and a variety of styles imported during the twentieth century, including blues, jazz, country, rock and roll, reggae, and hip hop, with many of these genres given a unique New Zealand interpretation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Body</span> NZ composer, ethnomusicologist, photographer and teacher (1944–2015)

John Stanley Body was a New Zealand composer, ethnomusicologist, photographer, teacher, and arts producer. As a composer, his work comprised concert music, music theatre, electronic music, music for film and dance, and audio-visual gallery installations. A deep and long-standing interest in the music of non-Western cultures – particularly South-East Asian – influenced much of his composing work, particularly his technique of transcribing field recordings. As an organiser of musical events and projects, Body had a significant impact on the promotion of Asian music in New Zealand, as well as the promotion of New Zealand music within the country and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RNZ Concert</span> New Zealand public radio network

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian Whitehead</span> New Zealand composer

Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead is a New Zealand composer. She is of Māori Ngāi Te Rangi descent. Her Māori heritage has been an important influence on her composing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Psathas</span> New Zealand composer

John Psathas, is a New Zealand Greek composer. He has works in the repertoire of such high-profile musicians as Evelyn Glennie, Michael Houstoun, Michael Brecker, Joshua Redman and the New Juilliard Ensemble, and is one of New Zealand's most frequently performed composers. He has established an international profile and receives regular commissions from organisations in New Zealand and overseas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gareth Farr</span> New Zealand composer, performer and percussionist

Gareth Vincent Farr is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and Royal New Zealand Ballet. He has also performed in drag under the name Lilith LaCroix in a show called Drumdrag and has also released a CD under that name.

Nigel Keay is a New Zealand composer. He has been a freelance musician since 1983 working as a composer, violist, and violin teacher. Nigel Keay has held the following composer residencies: Mozart Fellowship, University of Otago 1986 and 1987, Nelson School of Music 1988 and 89, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra 1995.

David Blair Hamilton is a New Zealand composer and teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Ritchie</span> New Zealand composer

Anthony Damian Ritchie is a New Zealand composer and academic. He has been a freelance composer accepting commissions for works and in 2018 he became professor of composition at The University of Otago after 18 years of teaching composition. Since 2020 he has been head of Otago's School of Performing Arts, a three-year position. His works number over two hundred, and include symphonies, operas, concertos, choral works, chamber music and solo works.

Andrew Perkins is a New Zealand composer, choral conductor and teacher. He has had a number of works recorded and performed internationally.

Eve de Castro-Robinson is a New Zealand composer, professor and graphic designer. Her compositions include orchestral, vocal, chamber and electroacoustic works. She studied at the University of Auckland, where in 1991 she became the first person to receive a DMus from the University. She is Associate Professor of Composition at the University of Auckland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Bowater</span> New Zealand composer

Helen Bowater is a New Zealand composer. She was born in Wellington into a musical family, and studied piano and violin with Gwyneth Brown. In 1982 she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in music history and ethnomusicology from Victoria University of Wellington. She continued her studies in electroacoustic music with Ross Harris and in composition with Jack Body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand String Quartet</span>

The New Zealand String Quartet is New Zealand's only full-time string quartet. The current formation of musicians consists of Helene Pohl, Monique Lapins, Gillian Ansell (viola) and Rolf Gjelsten (cello). Former members include Wilma Smith, Josephine Costantino and Douglas Beilman.

The New Zealand Chamber Soloists (NZCS), are a New Zealand based chamber music ensemble. The NZCS consists of prominent concerto soloists with national and international careers and extensive chamber music experience. The core of the ensemble is the piano trio consisting of New Zealand pianist, Katherine Austin, American-born cellist, James Tennant and violinist, Lara Hall. Other collaborators have included David Griffiths (composer) and baritone, clarinettist, Peter Scholes and harpsichord specialist, Rachel Griffith-Hughes.

David Griffiths is a composer, baritone and convener of the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Waikato. Griffiths has gained national and international recognition as a composer, opera singer and recital soloist. His choral compositions are particularly popular in the United States of America and have, in recent years, been recorded by several choirs while many works have been included on various record labels including Naxos Records, Kiwi Pacific and Atoll.

The Juniper Passion is a 2011 opera by New Zealand composer Michael F. Williams to a libretto by John Davies. The opera is set in 1944 during the World War II Battle of Monte Cassino, an Allied victory, but with a loss of life totalling approximately 105,000 deaths, including many New Zealand soldiers, over the series of battles. The Juniper Passion is written in three acts, six principal roles and chorus and is scored for chamber orchestra with digital effects. Performance is through dance with only minimal movement and interaction by the singing cast. In place of traditional sets, the opera has a 3-D computer graphic set design by Sean Castle that recreates the Benedictine abbey at Cassino. This is interspersed with images taken during the battle by Richard Ferguson Davies, father of librettist John Davies.

Ivan Zagni is a New Zealand-based musician and composer who has been a member of bands such as Jody Grind, Big Sideways and Avant Garage, and has recorded albums with Aynsley Dunbar, Elton Dean, Don McGlashan and Peter Scholes.

Kenneth Young is a composer, conductor, radio presenter and lecturer in composition, conducting and orchestration at the New Zealand School of Music, Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington. As a composer, Young has had works commissioned by New Zealand and Australian orchestras and arts organisations including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra New Zealand International Arts Festival and Chamber Music New Zealand. He works as a freelance composer and is fully represented by SOUNZ: The Centre for New Zealand Music. In 1976, Young became the principal tuba for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and first conducted the orchestra in 1985 becoming Conductor in Residence in 1993. In 2001, he resigned from the orchestra to become a full-time conductor, composer and recording artist for orchestras in New Zealand and Australia, as well as engagements in Japan and the United Kingdom. He is well known for his interpretation of Romantic, 20th Century, New Zealand and Australian orchestral repertoire and in 2012 conducted both the winning album, Angel at Ahipara and finalist album, Releasing the Angel, for Best Classical Album at the New Zealand Music Awards. Young has been recorded by EMI, Atoll Records, Continuum, Trust Records, ABC Classics and Naxos and is a frequent presenter on RESOUND, Radio New Zealand Concert introducing and contextualising work from the RNZ archives. In 2004 was awarded the Lilburn Trust Citation in Recognition of Outstanding Services to New Zealand Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tecwyn Evans</span> New Zealand conductor and composer

Tecwyn Evans is a New Zealand conductor. He holds a faculty position teaching conducting at the University of Auckland School of Music and in 2018 he was named as Director of Music of Den Jyske Opera.

Leonie Joyce Holmes is a New Zealand composer and lecturer at the University of Auckland with an interest in music education.

References

  1. SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. "Publisher Profile: Atoll CDs". Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  2. Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. "Best Classical Album Winner" . Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  3. Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. "Flight - Nominee" . Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  4. SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music. "Atoll Records Awards". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2012.