2011

This has been another full year for Richard with many performances and presentations nationally and internationally.

Dr Richard Nunns holding a putorino (a Maori instrument made from matai wood)New Zealand in 2011

In New Zealand, he has performed in:

  • The Adam Chamber Music Festival;
  • Opera in the Park, Nelson;
  • Festival of Colour, Wanaka;
  • the Don McGlashan work performed for the opening of the Rugby World Cup;
  • The Christchurch Festival and
  • the Four iiii’s festival in Wellington.

Te More

With the newly formed Nga Tae (comprising Richard’s dream team of Paddy Free — keyboard and electronica, Waimihi Hotere, vocals and his protege Horomona Horo also on Taonga Puoro) he has performed at –

  • Te Horo,
  • in Ihimaera in the Auckland Festival;
  • 3 sets at WOMAD NZ,
  • Bluesfest, Byron Bay Australia and
  • The Maori Music Awards in Hastings.

This group have just been workshopping and recording material for their first CD due out in March.

Internationally in 2011

Internationally, Richard has

  • toured with NZSQ to Hobart and Launceston in March and in the June /July period,
  • Richard had an extended tour to Europe where
    • he performed and recorded another CD with Yggdrasil in the Faroe Islands,
    • visited Iceland for the first time and gave presentations there;
    • returned to Germany, Italy and Turkey for performing and recording, and
    • completed the tour with performances with the NZSQ and NZ Trio in the City of London Festival.
  • In August Richard travelled to Patagonia with Waimihi Hotere on the final leg of Latitude 35 degrees project.
  • This was closely followed by a two-week trip to Sri Lanka with saxophonist Reuben Derrick.

Other work in 2011

In between times he has been recording for various CDs, contributing to a range of conferences, mentoring younger Maori artists and filming for a documentary on his “story”.

This has been a huge year for CDs and CD releases

The NZSQ CD Notes from a Journey, which includes He Poroporoaki composed by Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns, won the Best Classical Album in the New Zealand Music Awards. Releases have included

  • Te More, Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns;
  • Ancient Astronaut Theory, Dave Lisik and Richard Nunns;
  • This Appearing World, Crispell, Nunns, Henderson.
  • Richard also features on Seven by Tim Hopkins.

Awards

In November Richard was awarded The Constance Scott Kirkcaldie Award for Outstanding Composer of Music in The Chapman Tripp Awards for his work in the Capital E production of