The PUTORINO will be a featured conference instrument. This unique New Zealand instrument has been one of the most enigmatic in the re-established instrument tradition. The concert will show putorino in a traditional Maori music setting, in recent concert compositions (most notably those by Gillian Whitehead) and in Jazz.

These special guests are subject to further arrangements and confirmation  

ROBIN MACONIE is a composer and the author of several books on Stockhausen and other musical topics. His most recent publication is The Second Sense: Language Music and Hearing (London 2002). His contribution to the conference is entitled "Modernism and After: the avant-garde in the 21st century".

ADRIENNE KAEPPLER from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC is a specialist in the West Polynesian region of the Pacific, Dance ethnography, the voyages of Captain James Cook and related work. Adrienne’s presence at the conference will enhance ethnomusicology and dance studies, and Pacific research.

RICHARD NUNNS has been involved in the revitalising of the Maori instrument tradition over several decades, researching the playing technique and the significance of these instruments from Maori elders, and experimenting widely in different jazz, popular and classical styles.

LORD OF THE RINGS - not in person but one of the sound team who have taken part in this monumental project - will give a description of the work. As the third movie of the LOTR cycle will be premiered a few days after the conference, interest in the films will be high.

DAVID ROTHENBURG from New Jersey, is author of Sudden Music: Improvisation, Art, Nature (Georgia 2002) and editor of The Book of Music and Nature and the journal Terra Nova. His interests in environment sounds, nature, and improvisation will support the jazz and acoustic ecology sections of the conference

THE DIGITAL WORLD:  The digital delivery of music and information from libraries and archives will be the subject of a special session.  Speakers include members from the National Libraries of Australia and New Zealand.  The combined conference runs parallel to the International Association of Music Librarians (IAMUL) New Zealand conference.  This session will be shared between the two conferences.

As well as industry trade tables, a general trade table will be available for participants to sell and promote recent CDs, books and other work.  See the Trade Table section for more information.