SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, has named Sāmoan sonic artist and composer Joshua Pearson as the recipient of the 2025 SOUNZ Tarling Trust Orchestral Commission.
A collaboration between Auckland Philharmonia, Orchestra Wellington, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, the Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust and SOUNZ, the award supports early-career composers to create new orchestral works.
Pearson’s piece, Digital Fenua: Fakatili Te Kiloga Fou (Navigating the Changing Environment), responds to Tuvalu’s struggle with climate change and its move toward becoming the world’s first digital nation. The work will use both traditional and graphic notation, including water sounds from percussion and musicians, to reflect rising sea levels.
“I’m incredibly honoured to receive this commission,” says Pearson. “As a Moana Pacific composer, this opportunity allows me to grow as an artist while amplifying Tuvalu’s story of resilience in the face of climate change.”
Selected from 42 proposals, Pearson’s vision was praised by the judging panel for its urgency and clarity. His work will premiere nationwide with the four partner orchestras in 2026–27.
