Research Interests

Glenda was awarded a PhD in Music by the University of Auckland in 2006 for her analytical thesis "Exploring Notions of National Style: New Zealand Orchestral Music in the Late Twentieth Century". Earlier achievements include an MMus (1st class) in Composition from the University Of Auckland (1986).

Glenda was President of CANZ (the Composers Association of New Zealand) from 2007 – 2017. In 2019 she was elected first female President of the ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music), an organization dating back to 1922. Earlier appointments included time on the ISCM Executive Committee (including Vice-President from 2016) and four years as Treasurer of the NZSME (New Zealand Society for Music Education).

Glenda has represented New Zealand at international festivals in Australia, Croatia, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, South Korea, Canada and China. She devised, curated and organized the (09)03 Contemporary Music Festival held in Auckland in 2003 and co-curated the “New Zealand in LA Festival” in Los Angeles, April 2012. She co-edited and contributed a chapter to "Home, Land and Sea: Situating Music in Aotearoa New Zealand" (2011). A composer-analyst, her writings focus on New Zealand music studies, music education, music analysis, New Zealand cultural identity in music, and the psychology of creativity.

Glenda’s compositions have been performed in Australasia, the US, Canada and the UK. She was a member of the National Youth Choir of NZ, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields chorus in London and the Britten Singers (formerly BBC Northern), and enjoys performing as a piano improviser.