Victoria University's Hunter gathers artistic inspiration

Victoria University of Wellington will begin a new event series in the historic Hunter Council Chamber next month bringing together the imaginative and creative talent of New Zealand’s creative capital.

The first Hunter Gathering on 6 April will have performances of Ravel by the Te Kōkī Trio, a reading by poet Chris Price, and an introduction to the art in the Hunter Council Chamber. There will also be an opportunity to talk with the performers.

Victoria University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Jennifer Windsor says she is delighted to join Te Kōki New Zealand School of Music in hosting the first event.

“It will be a kaleidoscope of music, creative writing, art, history and critical thought.”

The Te Kōkī Trio is an in-residence ensemble at the New Zealand School of Music, and features pianist Jian Liu, cellist Inbal Megiddo and violinist Martin Riseley.

Chris Price will read from her latest collection of poetry, Beside Herself.

Adam Art Gallery Director Christina Barton will give a talk on the art in the Hunter Council Chamber referencing the historic stained glass window and an artwork by Richard Killeen.

What: The Hunter Gathering

When: 6–7:15pm, Wednesday 6 April, followed by a mix-and-mingle until 8pm

Where: Victoria University Hunter Council Chamber, Hunter Building

Cost: $25 including a complimentary glass of wine. Tickets can be purchased through Eventfinda.

For more information, visit http://www.nzsm.ac.nz/events/upcoming-events/the-hunter-gathering or contact Chris Wilson on 04-463 9498, 021 0525 300 or chris.wilson@vuw.ac.nz.

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FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME

The complete account of Britain’s worst-ever military disaster

By Andrew Macdonald

 It took several million bullets and roughly an hour to destroy General Sir Douglas Haig's grand plans for the First Day of the Somme, 1 July 1916. By day’s end 19,240 British soldiers were dead, crumpled khaki bundles scattered across pasture studded with the scarlet of poppies and smouldering shell holes. A further 35,493 were wounded.

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FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME

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NZ RRP $39.99  |  PUBLICATION DATE 1 APRIL 2016  |  HarperCollins Publishers NZ

                                                                                                                                     

About the author

Andrew Macdonald is a New Zealand author and military historian now living in London. He holds a PhD (University of London) in military history, which he completed while working as a Reuters correspondent.  He works full time as a writer, and has penned two other books, On My Way to the Somme: New Zealanders and the Bloody Offensive of 1916 and Passchendaele: The Anatomy of a Tragedy, both published by HarperCollins to critical acclaim.

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