City in New Zealand. Located in the north of the North Island, it is the country's largest city, with a population of approximately one million. European settlement dates from 1840; organized musical activities from 1845 featured the bands of the 58th and, later, 65th Regiments of the Imperial Forces. They supplied the music not only for military events but also for balls, soirées, outdoor concerts and church occasions. The Auckland Choral Society, founded in 1855, continues to the present day; other notable choirs have been the Auckland Liedertafel (later Royal Auckland Choir), the Albyn Singers and the choirs of Holy Trinity and St Patrick's cathedrals. The Dorian Choir, formed in 1935, established an international reputation under the direction of Peter Godfrey. The Primary School Choral Festival is well established after 50 years.
Opera has had a chequered life in Auckland since the 1860s, with a heavy dependence on touring groups such as the Lyster, Simonsen, Musgrave, Williamson and Pollard companies. The National Opera Company was short-lived (1979–83), but the merger of Mercury Opera with the Metropolitan Opera in 1992 to form Auckland Opera (now Opera New Zealand) marked a resurgence of interest and success, helped by the opening of the Aotea Centre in 1989. With its 2256-seat auditorium, it is the first venue in Auckland with the facilities for a full operatic production. Operetta has been well served by the Auckland Light Opera Club, founded in 1919.
The role of the enthusiastic amateur has been central to Auckland's active musical life, supported by societies, schools, church and community choirs, brass bands and retailers. Maughan Barnett, the city organist, and the Municipal Band performed free concerts in the Town Hall for many years. The Bohemian Orchestra (1914–36) and the Auckland SO (1939–47) attempted to provide a range of orchestral works. The professional Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in 1986, preceded by the Auckland String Orchestra (1940), later the Symphonia of Auckland and Auckland Regional Orchestra. It maintains a busy concert schedule across a broad repertory. The Town Hall and the Aotea Centre are the main musical venues; smaller ones include the Maidment Theatre (opened 1975), the University of Auckland Musical Theatre (1986) and the Bruce Mason Centre (1996).
The School of Music (from 1970 to 1981 called the Conservatorium) at the University of Auckland provides performers, composers, teaching and a wide range of musical activities. A chair in music was established in 1888. Composers attached to the university have included Douglas Mews and John Rimmer. The university also houses the Archive of Maori and Pacific Music. Music education in secondary schools is starting to reflect the strong Maori and Polynesian influences in the city, which have also affected emerging styles of popular music in the Auckland area. As the country's largest population base, Auckland has had a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining the national reputations of those working in popular music and jazz.
Centennial Music Festival, Auckland, 1940 [programme book]
A. Annabel: Music in Auckland 1840–55 (thesis, U. of Auckland, 1968)
S.P. Newcomb: Challenging Brass (Auckland, 1980)
C. Nalden: A History of the Conservatorium of Music, University of Auckland, 1888–1981 (Auckland, 1981)
J.M. Thomson: The Oxford History of New Zealand Music (Auckland, 1991)
R. Watkins: Hostage to the Beat: the Auckland Scene 1955–1970 (Auckland, 1995)
LIBBY NICHOL