A composition for bass flute and fixed electronics came to life in Vienna this month with its New Zealand composer in the audience.
Dylan Lardelli, the University of Otago’s Mozart fellow for the past two years, is in Europe working on new projects in Austria, Germany and Slovenia.
‘‘I would like to stay in Dunedin, in many ways, but the majority of my work projects happen in the northern hemisphere, in Europe or Asia, so unfortunately it doesn’t make sense to stay.’’
That he enjoyed living in Dunedin so much exceeded his expectations. He had only visited briefly in the past before taking up the fellowship.
‘‘It’s a much more receptive and easier place to organise events than I imagined and there is a lot of potential for an ongoing musical world with a number of interested venues and organisations.’’
He also discovered during this time in Dunedin that it was important for him to access the natural environment.
‘‘Dunedin is quite a green city, so this and the harbour views have inspired me a lot while living here.’’
A highlight of his time has been finding the ‘‘wealth’’ of imaginative and artistic talent in Dunedin.
‘‘Getting to know the people here and also getting to know the city and some of its surrounds.’’
Lardelli, who is also a guitarist, was grateful for getting a second fellowship year, as it meant he could consider projects over a longer term.
The fellowship, formed in 1969, aims to aid and encourage composers in the practice and advancement of their art, to associate them with the life of the university and to foster an interest in contemporary music within the university and in the community.
It also provides the minimum salary of a fulltime university lecturer and a studio/office space for the year.
‘‘This has meant being able to work on performances in Dunedin, bringing in outside guests for concerts at DPAG [Dunedin Public Art Gallery], and also work on composing a few pieces that bridged the two years.’’
Those pieces have been performed in Japan, Germany, Austria and Australia, and in January and February will also be performed in Hong Kong.
‘‘I have been able to attend performances of my older works in conferences in Greece, and Japan.’’
Lardelli, who has a bachelor’s degree in guitar performance and a master’s in composition from Victoria University, also enjoyed getting to know the staff and students better at Otago University’s music department.
‘‘I was able to assist in developing a project for two of the composition students to attend a new music festival in Australia this year, where they both had pieces presented.’’
The support and encouragement from DPAG for holding performances had been very encouraging, he says.
‘‘There’s been a growing audience size with every presentation I do there.’’
Once his current European tour is over he will return to Dunedin, but with a move to Europe likely in February.
His European connections go back to when he studied with Stefano Bellon in Venice and received a DAAD stipend in 2009-10 to work with Dieter Mack at the Lubeck Musikhochshule in Germany. Since October he has been composer in residence at Kulture Kontakt in Austria.
‘‘I will, however, be back throughout the year doing a few performances.’’
Next up he has plans to compile a number of his works, some written during his residency and older ones, for inclusion on a CD.
