Mark Menzies

Professor / Head of PerformanceMark Menzies

Rm 111 UC Arts City Location - 3 Hereford Street
Violinist, violist, pianist, conductor, composer, writer on music and musicians, and teacher; at UC, I am Head of Performance.

Qualifications

Research Interests

I am an active performer on the violin, viola, piano, and as a conductor – being particularly well known for my career as an advocate for music recently composed, and music written in Aotearoa. My career has a world-wide reach, and includes as a member of the Los Angeles-based string quartet, the Formalist Quartet.
I am also a composer of music, inspired to write for a wide range of performance circumstances – ranging from concert orchestral music to my own form of theatrical music.
Though not a primary focus of my research, I enjoy writing about music, and contemporary composers in particular. Most recently, for example, I have published an article about the unique form of a trail-blazing solo viola composition from the 1970s – "Prologue" by Gérard Grisey, from his evening-long composition Les Espaces Acoustique.
Teaching is of great significance to the way I function as an artist, and it is through and with the wonderful community of musicians we have at, and surrounding, the University of Canterbury, that I happily balance the exploration of traditional classical music, contemporary expressions of music, and non-Western traditions alike.

Recent Publications

  • Kurano R. and Scales S. (2023) Residency with the Magic Carpet Music Trust. Performer; teacher: Wānaka, Lake Hāwea. [Musical performances Music masterclasses].
  • Menzies M. (2023) The curse of success. The Chapel Centre, Papanui, Christchurch: U3A: Music through the ages series, 02 Mar 2023.
  • Menzies M. (2023) CSO Virtuosi in concert. Conductor, arranger, composer: The Piano, Christchurch, NZ. [A chamber orchestra performance].
  • Menzies M. (2023) glad allemandes. self-published. University of California, Davis. [Violin and piano performance]. 10'.
  • Menzies M. (2023) Off Centre: Professor Mark Menzies in Concert. performer, performer/composer, improvisor: Recital Room, Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ. [Solo violin recital].