About the Caprice Arts Trust
The Caprice Arts Trust is a charitable trust, founded in 2008 by music promoter and educator Sunniva Zoete-West. The Trust provides an independent platform for performers, conductors and composers and is dedicated to performing the music our artists themselves feel passionate about. Further aims of the Trust’s creative activities are to broadly popularise contemporary NZ music and to promote the performance of music in general on a regular basis.
An annual concert programme promoted by CAT is presented each year and each mini-series is performed in various locations. The dynamic concerts are a unique blend of intelligent performance and passionate music making. Musicians range from newly graduated to virtuosic, experienced musicians who excel at the performance of chamber music as well as solo repertoire. Since its inception, the critically acclaimed CAT series has earned a reputation for top-calibre performances, which clearly foster the closest communication possible between performers, composers and their audience. Some of the concert series and musical projects are aimed at a wider audience with classical through to romantic work featured. Others attract a more specialist audience of, for instance, jazz lovers or enthusiastic advocates for new music. Concerts which include an eclectic mix of genres, with whatever music the artists involved feel passionate about, also draw a broad audience of supporters.
By performing and commissioning works by up-and-coming as well as established living composers, CAT aims to promote classical contemporary music as a necessary and prevalent component of Wellington’s cultural scene. The Trust regularly commissions and collaborates with New Zealand composers, and also invites performers and musicians from other countries to share their work. During the 2008 season the Trust enjoyed a concert tour by the Bellatrix Recorder Quartet from New South Wales (Australia). Engagements for 2009 included the contra-bass recorder specialist Pia Palme (Vienna) and for 2010 the highly acclaimed contemporary music conductor Lucas Vis (the Netherlands), who will premiere a new work by Dylan Lardelli (NZ Composer) and work with Trust musicians and coach NZ conductors in conjunction with the SMP ensemble and the New Zealand School of Music.
Aims
The Trust is established to carry out the following aims:
- To provide performing opportunities for independent and well qualified musicians.
- To provide encouragement and a means of collaboration for a network of independent musicians.
- To provide commissions to promising new, as well as established New Zealand composers.
- To provide performance opportunities for New Zealand music.
- To promote awareness of New Zealand music through live performances.
- To provide a performing platform for existing ensembles.
- To participate in any projects within New Zealand that will advance any of these aims.
Who are the Trustees?
Caprice Arts Trust Chair, Sunniva Zoete-West, studied recorder and flute at both the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand) and the Sweelinck Conservatorium (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) She subsequently completed a degree in organisational pscyhology and business administration, as well as various post-graduate papers in industrial law and business studies. She has spent the past 20 years managing centres of education as well as a large (400-500 students) music centre for the Ministry of Education. With her own four growing children at school, Sunniva has become increasingly involved in promoting New Zealand musicians and composers, organising performances, commissioning music and promoting New Zealand music to the world. She provides the strategic direction for the Trust.
Other Caprice Arts Trustees, Dr. Alan Wright and Christine Quarrie, have nothing to do with music and are able to bring a fresh perspective to the Trust's work. Alan's area of expertise lies within the public service and the workings of the government. Christine is a private sector business woman with amazing insights into the commercial world.