I began my Bachelor of Music after taking a gap year traveling. Taking a year for myself reaffirmed what my passions were and made my goals clear as well. The University was very helpful and flexible in helping me plan for my studies, and I have since started a conjoint degree (a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Psychology) to cater for my other interests alongside my passion for music.

When considering universities, I chose Victoria University of Wellington primarily for the dedicated staff. The music professors are very active in the Wellington community and, as a local, I knew many of them long before I had even thought about tertiary study. My violin teacher especially is highly involved in and dedicated to the development of young musicians in New Zealand. Since beginning my violin studies under her tutelage, my teacher has become more like a life coach—a huge source of support and mentoring for me during my studies.

Wellington is really a remarkable place to live in while studying. The city is riddled with art of all sorts; there is absolutely no shortage of inspiration or performance opportunity. I often find myself in awe at just how much is going on in such a small space. The connections the University has with nearby communities, such as film companies or festivals and events, means students are challenged with new experiences all the time, which really helps build the complete musician.

The Jazz Performance programme at NZSM has been hugely rewarding, as it has allowed me to meet peers who are equally as passionate and driven about the jazz genre as I am. Working and growing together as musicians during the course of the three to four years has probably been the most memorable part of the programme.

I've also very much enjoyed studying a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature; balancing both music and English has been challenging but very enriching in affording me quality, in-depth study in two complementary disciplines. The wide array of English Literature courses available caters to everyone's interests, and lectures are very stimulating and enjoyable.

I remember coming down to Wellington for the first time four years ago for my audition and being immediately struck by the city's comings and goings; one day in town was enough to convince me to move here to study! Over the course of my degree, I have especially enjoyed being immersed in Wellington's rich music scene, with numerous weekly gigs and jams to participate in. It's inspiring to see so many alumni of the NZSM Jazz Performance programme performing around town in such a diverse array of genres and settings.

Since graduating from Victoria University of Wellington, I’ve found work that has allowed me to put into practice all the skills I learned from my Bachelor of Music and one of the University’s newest programmes, the Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice). Through both, I honed my craft as a composer; the skills I gained have helped me to operate at a professional level with the confidence and resources to seek out work for myself.

The University was able to provide fantastic opportunities that have helped me understand the complexities of the film music industry and the challenges in being a professional creative. Since completing my studies, I’ve been able to obtain work on a children’s puppet theatre show at Circa Theatre, as well as hopefully securing work on a short film funded by the New Zealand Film Commission. I’ve produced trailers for the Terror-Fi film festival hosted by The Roxy Cinema, as well as music for this year’s New Zealand International Film Festival’s programme launch. All in all, I’ve been busy and productive.

Victoria University of Wellington was an amazing place to study because Wellington is such a vibrant and exciting city. The people here made it very easy to start networking and these connections have helped me feel comfortable in Wellington. I’m proud to call this city home.

My teaching, research and creative work are focused on how music connects people intimately with the both the social and the material worlds. Music is influenced by personal relationships, politics, the economy and the environment, but it also can powerfully shape all of these things and more. Victoria University of Wellington has been a great place for me to develop my work in all of its modes, but especially as I have been able to develop courses in jazz, popular music and film music where whatever your major, you will be able to deepen your understanding of music making as an essential and consequential human activity.

The range of staff expertise at the University is astonishingly wide––students in music can work with passionate and enthusiastic staff members across a broad array of interests. This makes it an ideal place for students to not only hone their skills to a high level in their areas of focus, but also to enjoy flexibility in their studies and a comprehensive overall education.

One of the ways that studying music at the University stands out is that the student experience is intertwined with the fabric of Wellington's musical and cultural life. We are constantly providing ways for students to expand their understandings of music in the world through opportunities to interact with Te Papa, Wellington Jazz Festival, Alexander Turnbull Library and members of the NZSO, among other institutions. Students also consistently take advantage of participating in the lively Wellington scene in all kinds of ways at venues around town and at treasured festivals like CubaDupa and the Newtown Festival.