Callum Allardice has been named as the inaugural NZSM Jazz Composer-in-Residence by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. 

The is the newest of the school’s three annual composer residencies and is the second to be announced for 2022, with Jerome Kavanagh recently having taken up the Composer-in-Residence role. He will be in residence at the NZSM from the end of June. 

Born in Motueka, Allardice is well-known as jazz guitarist and composer. He’s an alumnus of the university and has previously taught jazz theory at the NZSM, as well as jazz guitar in the Young Musician’s programme. Regularly featuring in NZ jazz awards circles, Allardice says that while in residence he will be doing two projects that explore the relationship between composition and improvisation.

“One is for a 17+ person ensemble, and the other is a quartet. I can’t wait to release an album under my own name, with complete artistic licence.”

NZSM jazz programme director Dr Dave Wilson says, “Callum’s proposal and CV showed he had a proven track record as a nationally recognised composer and jazz artist of outstanding merit. He has numerous published recordings and prestigious performances, and is highly regarded by his peers for his compositional work.”