News

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24 October 2024

By Shelley Topp

Ohoka’s Alexandra Hope Watson, a multitalented Doctor of Musical Arts student at the University of Canterbury (UC), will travel to England in January for the world premiere of her first musical.

The First 8 is based on the first eight women who were employed as pilots by the Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII and is set to captivate audiences as it brings to life a chapter of wartime history, focusing on the reshaping of gender roles in aviation.

As a pilot herself, Alexandra has a personal connection to the story behind this production.

The First 8 premiere will be held at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, a teaching and performance facility at Birmingham City University, and comes after the highly successful world premiere of Alexandra’s second musical, A Magical Musical Mystery.

It was performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) at The Piano in Christchurch on September 28.

It was the first time a UC student has worked with the CSO on a musical production.

‘‘It was an incredible experience to perform 14 of my songs as the soprano soloist and hear my composition, A Magical Musical Mystery, brought to life by the CSO, exceeding all my expectations,’’ Alexandra says.

‘‘The musical is based on the nonsense verse of Lewis Carroll. I selected 20 poems and set these to music creating a new magical dream landscape. The musical follows a consciousness as it wanders through its own dream landscape, which manifests as a young girl.’’

Alexandra plays six musical instruments and has performed in two mainstage productions with New Zealand Opera as a member of the NZ Opera Chorus, together with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and the National Schools Symphony Orchestra in the United Kingdom.

She has a Bachelor of Science (majoring in mathematics) and a Bachelor of Music (majoring in performance) as well as a Master of Arts with Distinction in Music (performance and composition) from UC.

She began composing A Magical Musical Mystery during 2021 as part of her master’s degree composition project and approached the CSO last year with this project. She was responsible for all aspects of the production, including hiring of soloists Naomi Ferguson (Christchurch jazz singer) and John Bayne (bassbaritone).

Alexandra also approached conductor, Naomi Hnat (2023 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducting fellow) and solo saxophonist, Helen Grout (Master’s student at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), musicians she has known for many years.

She has also had ‘‘invaluable support’’ from Creative New Zealand, as a recipient of its Early Career Fund, and Archibalds Christchurch.

‘‘This project would not have been possible without that support,’’ she says.

The University of Canterbury’s arts city campus manager, Naomi van den Broek says A Magical Musical Mystery is a bold and brave endeavour.

‘‘Alexandra has made her own opportunities, and it is inspiring to see.’’

Radio New Zealand. From Nine To Noon, 10:08 am on 27 September 2024

Alexandra Hope Watson grew up reading Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll, and performing some of the monologues as a speech and drama student.

Now doing her doctorate in music arts at the University of Canterbury, Alexandra has transformed 19 of Carroll's nonsense poems into a musical to be performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra tomorrow. 

A Magical Musical Mystery is the first collaboration between a student composer and the CSO, and came about after she pitched the idea to the orchestra's creative director two years ago.

Friday, 27 September 2024

Alexandra Hope Watson grew up reading Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll - now she has turned 19 of his nonsense poems into a musical to be performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Hope Watson is working towards her doctorate in music arts at Canterbury University, but she's also a talented composer, mathematician, trampolinist and licenced pilot.

Sometimes she even flies planes upside down as a member of the NZ Aerobatic Club.

Radio New Zealand. From Three to Seven, 4:00 pm on 26 September 2024

Alexandra Hope Watson: it's difficult to know where to start.

Looking at the résumé of this brilliant young musician, composer, mathematician and trampolinist, it seems she may find it difficult to stop.

Did we mention she also flies planes upside down? She's a member of the NZ Aerobatic Club.

Sometimes busy minds can fall down rabbit holes. Such is the case with Hope Watson: her latest project is a work she's written for orchestra and singers based on the writing of Lewis (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) Carroll.

17 September 2024

A groundbreaking student-led collaboration with CSO premieres in September, featuring a cyclical musical journey inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poetry.

In an historic first, a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) student from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) has successfully pitched and brought to life a unique musical collaboration with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO).

9 Sep 2024

Old Girl Alexandra Watson brings her second musical to life with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, blending the whimsy of Lewis Carroll’s verse with contemporary soundscapes.

A love of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats led Old Girl (2014-2017) Alexandra Watson down a magical, musical path. Composer, soprano, lyricist and arranger Alexandra introduces us to a mystical world in her second musical, to be performed on Saturday, 28 September, at The Piano in collaboration with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO).

“In some shape and form Cats was my inspiration and a catalyst. I loved how Andrew Lloyd Webber set poetry to music in a way that made it accessible to everyone, adults and children alike. I wanted to do the same thing with Lewis Carroll’s Nonsense Verse, creating a soundscape that embodied these non-sensical characters in a contemporary format.”

August 21, 2024 by Metropol

Alexandra Hope Watson is a high flyer – literally. You may have seen her beaming down at you from a University of Canterbury (UC) billboard, emboldened behind her the words “MUSIC” and “AEROBATICS”, writes Metropol’s Joseph Harper.

Acurious juxtaposition, one that describes two of the young composer and concert singer’s passions. Alexandra began flying at 16, around the same time she began taking advanced courses at UC. She is now completing a commercial pilot’s licence and has won national titles in aerobatics – a discipline described as gymnastics in aeroplanes. Think barrel rolls and loop-de-loops. Alexandra explains her hobby to me over a hot chocolate at The Arts Centre. “It sounds so extravagant, but it’s really just like anything else.” I get the feeling she’s understating it.

Posted on August 31, 2023 by erinharringtonnz

Chris Archer reviews Noteworthy: Celebrating 150 Years of University of Canterbury, presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with UC, conducted by Mark Menzies, MC'ed by Oscar Days and Alexandra Watson, Saturday 26 August 2023 at the Christchurch Town Hall. 

This concert, described by one of the UC student MCs as a ‘concert featuring talent from the past and present – a smorgasbord of music’ is certainly that – something for everyone. It kicks off with John Ritchie’s Papanui Road Overture, a candidly populist work colourfully scored, and with many associations that anybody who knows Ōtautahi Christchurch might identify with. There’s a large percussion section including tram bell and car horns. The work hints at the bustle, vitality and occasional peace of the area. It is a brilliantly orchestrated work and serves well as a festive opening to the concert. It’s jaunty, comic in places, and unashamedly programmatic. Conductor Professor Mark Menzies directs with energy and precision. 

GRANTEE | AUGUST 2022 

An extraordinary 21 year old multi-instrumentalist, Alexandra plays Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Harp and Voice. She has been handpicked for an NZSO Mentorship Programme, UK National Youth Choirs, and Schools Symphony Orchestra, performed in multiple operas and was the youngest Musical Director ever at the North Canterbury Academy of Music. With two degrees (maths and musical performance), this Grant enables Alexandra to complete her Masters in Music and Composition, as the next step towards a Doctorate so she can produce musicals with international musical theatre companies.

10 June 2021

By Shelley Topp

Alexandra Watson, the North

Canterbury Academy of Music's new musical director, looks forward to inspiring young musicians in her new roll.

The high-achieving young musician, who was born in England but now lives in Ohoka with her parents, was delighted to accept her new role and is uniquely qualified to excel in it. Alexandra, aged 20, has played six instruments — piano, voice, violin, cello, flute and harp - from a young age.

"While in the United Kingdom I sang with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain Girls Choir, recording Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols as part of a CD, A Festival of Britten," Alexandra said.

"Following our move to New Zealand in 2013 I joined the University of Canterbury Chamber Choir Consortia and played violin with the Christchurch Youth Orchestra."

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (mathematics) in 2020 and is completing a Bachelor of Music (classical voice) this year. "I then plan to complete my Honours followed by my Masters at the University of Canterbury, studying performance in composition.

Alexandra has also been composing music for several years and has released recordings of both classical and contemporary original songs. She plays cello with Secret Sinfonia, a University of Canterbury student-led orchestra bridging the gap between youth orchestras and professional musicians, and has sung with the Seasoning Ensemble, a New Zealand baroque music chamber ensemble.

She enjoys different music genres, from classical to contemporary, and musical theatre.

She recently performed with the University of Canterbury Voices singing group during its second concert in the Chamber Gallery in the Rangiora Library. Alexandra also has a love of flying and gained her private pilot's licence in 2019, at 17.

She aims to complete her commercial pilot's licence this year. She also enjoys aerobatics, which is supported by her enjoyment of trampolining, as both require spacial awareness. 

Alexandra coaches at ICE Trampoline in Rangiora on Saturday mornings and competes in the sport at junior international level.

She is the youngest person to be appointed musical director at the North Canterbury Academy of Music.

Alexandra hopes to encourage students at the academy to gain confidence to perform individually and in small ensembles.

She looks forward to the academy's

Orchestral Weekend (on June 18 and June 19). "I am encouraging all students from beginners to students to join us."