Traditional music conference strikes right chord in Wellington

The International Council for the Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD) is an influential international organisation focusing on research in global music and dance, with formal guidance from UNESCO. In January 2025 Wellington hosted performers and academics from 85 countries at the 48th World Conference of the ICTMD. 

More than 500 delegates attended the event, with over 250 online. The lively six-day programme included workshops, panels, roundtables, plenaries, film screenings, and musical performances, and sparked lasting opportunities for music funding and collaboration in the city.

Local arrangements chair, Brian Diettrich, says the appeal of Wellington and New Zealand drove higher than expected turnout. “We had more than 1,000 people put in proposals for the conference programme. We were successful in getting a lot of performers to come, far more than any recent ICTMD conference.” Brian is an Associate Professor in Ethnomusicology at the New Zealand School of Music at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington (VUW).

Showcase performers came from as far away as Kenya, Peru, and Mexico. Organisers were eager to centre the conference in New Zealand, and gave a global stage to Māori and Pasifika music.

“I think at these conferences, there often isn't an Indigenous focus. We wanted to really change that through our opening ceremony, which included a whakatau welcome, kapa haka and Pasifika dance, and in the keynotes and plenaries, which included Indigenous-led panels. People really commented on it in a positive way,” Brian said. “The audience were in tears at Jerome Kavanagh Poutama’s keynote. The visiting Mi'kmaw delegation from Cape Breton (Canada) came up afterwards and sang a song for him in honour. It was a really powerful moment. We did transform the conference in that way.”

Making musical collaborations

The conference also sparked a large number of connections. The University of Cape Town invited VUW’s School of Music to be part of the GLOMUS music network in 2027. The Beijing Central Conservatory of Music brought a large performing group to the event, and have shown interest in new initiatives with VUW.

The conference attracted a large number of attendees from international embassies to the capital city. Brian says several collaborations have been established including future projects with the Canadian High Commission, like taking the conference’s New Zealand keynote speakers to Canada later in the year.

VUW’s new Head of the School of Music, Professor Kim Cunio, also spoke and performed at the conference, and discussions were now underway within the university about starting a research hub at the School of Music. Brian believes the January conference was key to showcasing the potential of the School of Music for new research.

“I think it elevated the view of the School of Music, by showing that this is the type of profile it can achieve for the university and the city. Elevating the school of music wasn't our main goal, but it was a welcome subsidiary.”

Brian is part of the Wellington Advocate Network, a group of industry leaders who are passionate supporters of Wellington as a conference destination. As professional recognition for his role in the successful conference organisation, Brian was elected vice president of ICTMD.

A Wellington welcome

Following the welcome event at The Hub at VUW, the conference itself was held at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre. It provided a great, flexible space for the busy programme.

Hefty instruments were easily moved through the goods lifts, and groups rehearsed in the green rooms. When unseasonably cold weather forced the cancellation of a public outdoor concert, the group performed in the main open space of Tākina’s first floor.

“Everyone was very happy,” says Brian. “The venue was beautiful, everyone loved being able to walk around the city, and people were raving about the food.”

Brian also nods to the quick and very helpful service from Immigration New Zealand in processing visas for the large number of international delegates. He notes the process was smoother than at previous conferences.

“Coming here was much further away for most people. So it seemingly would be more challenging, but it actually worked very, very easily. Everyone was very excited to be in Wellington.

“What we did programme-wise with the Indigenous focus, and with all the amazing performing groups that came, it really re-energised the conference in interesting ways. The event was extremely positive.”