2019 Concert Series Bach & Bruckner | Page 15

Imeneo in the Halle Opera house, and was awarded the Badge of Honour for his services to the Handel Festival and the City of Halle. Uwe Grodd is equally committed to the music of his own time, playing a pivotal role in commissioning more than 50 works from New Zealand composers. He conducted the premiere season of the multi- media opera Galileo, with music by John Rimmer and libretto by Witi Ihimaera, and, in 2012, was Artistic Director of Len Lye the opera, with music by Eve de Castro-Robinson and libretto by Roger Horrocks. Uwe Grodd is Professor Emeritus of the University of Auckland and has been the inaugural Music Director of the Manukau Symphony Orchestra since 1993. Last year he was invited to be Music Director of the Chiron Group which includes two fast growing music schools with 500 students, the Albany School of Music and the Remuera Music Academy. He was invited to become Music Director of Auckland Choral, New Zealand’s longest- established symphonic choir, in 2008. 15