Eve de Castro-Robinson Photo: Supplied
She’s written a call to arms for trumpet in response to climate change, she’s allowed her work to be reimagined by the likes of Don McGlashan and Nathan Haines on an album with the bold title of The Gristle of Knuckles.
In fact so fearless is composer Eve De Castro Robinson that not only did she recently give a seminar entitled ‘Being Fearless’ but - now in her 60s - she recently tried doing stand-up comedy for the first time.
Not typical for a composer, yet Robinson has always been bold in working with others and across artforms. She ascribes to composer John Cage’s view: “Get out of whatever cage you’re in.”
De Castro-Robinson is currently composer in residence At the World’s Edge Chamber Music Festival 2024, in Queenstown Lakes, with her work appearing over a series of upcoming concerts from the 5-13 October. There are programmes in Queenstown, Wānaka, Bannockburn and Cromwell, with each examining folk music’s influence.
Recently retired as Associate Professor in Composition from the University of Auckland, she now works as a freelance composer, music consultant and writer.
Eve de Castro-Robinson has been commissioned by orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, and the Auckland Philharmonia. Her work ranges from large orchestral to vocal, chamber and electroacoustic works, performed here and internationally and includes Len Lye the opera.
De Castro-Robinson has twice been winner of both the SOUNZ Contemporary Award and of the Philip Neill Memorial Prize in Music. Other albums to her name inclued Releasing the angel (2011), Other echoes (2001), and Chaos of Delight (1998).
She joins Mark Amery on RNZ’s Culture 101.
