Douglas Lilburn’s former home in Thorndon, Wellington is on the verge of becoming New Zealand’s first residence for composers.

The Lilburn Residence Trust, formed to buy the house from the Executors of the distinguished composer’s estate need to raise about $275,000 before the end of July in order to complete the purchase.

“We have had a long and nervous wait for our offer to be accepted”, commented the Chair of the Trust and former Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University, Professor Les Holborow. “However, it is an exciting project and we have remained optimistic that we will succeed. The opportunity to create New Zealand’s first residence for composers and honour the remarkable and distinguished contribution of our most important composer is a great incentive.”

With the help of a grant of $150,000 from Lotteries Environment and Heritage Committee, the task of raising the purchase price has been greatly reduced. The remaining $275,000 will need to be raised through individual donations and contributions from other.trusts or foundations.

“We are sure that there are many music-lovers who would wish to help us. Anyone who donates $1,000 or more will have their name listed on a plaque at the house and, with the compliments of Ode Records, will receive a CD of Douglas Lilburn’s piano music played by one of his closest friends and colleagues, Margaret Nielsen,” he added.

Proceeds from the sale of the house will go to the Lilburn Trust, which was set up by the composer in 1984 to preserve and promote New Zealand music. The fact that, in this way, the sale of the house will also contribute to New Zealand's musical life well into the future means that contributions to the Lilburn Residence Trust will do more than just buy the property. They will help to develop and document our musical heritage.

Once the purchase is completed, Gillian Whitehead, the NZ School of Music-Creative NZ Composer in Residence for 2005-2006, will move into the house in mid August. It is planned that the house, situated on a quiet section in central Thorndon, will provide accommodation every year for the composer holding this recently established residency.

The property is an ideal first Residence for a NZ composer with its close proximity to the Randell Writer’s Cottage and the Rita Angus Cottage, which hosts a visual arts residency. The house itself is quite modest but is an early example of modernist architecture and sits on a large bush-clad section. It has attracted the support of the Historic Places Trust who have placed a covenant on the title ensuring that integrity of the house and garden are preserved. Douglas Lilburn lived in the house from 1959 until his death in 2001 and loved the relative quiet and convenience the property provided.

James Gardner, the inaugural NZSM-CNZ Composer in Residence has said, “How wonderful it would be if the Composer in residence really did have a Residence!” His wishes may be about to come true!

ENDS

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Contacting the Lilburn Residence Trust

Postal Address: c/- PO Box 10042, Wellington, New Zealand
Email: Lilburn Residence Trust
Phone Enquiries: Centre for NZ Music, Wellington - (04) 801 8602
Fax: (04) 801 8604
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