Anthony Ritchie has been recognised as an Emeritus Professor of Otago. He is pictured in his office just before his retirement from the Music programme. The painting on his wall, Orchestra Loud, is by Dunedin journalist and former president of the Art Society, Geoff Adams. It features his son and one of Anthony’s colleagues for many years, Emeritus Professor Peter Adams, conducting an imaginary, surreal orchestra.
An atmosphere of collaboration and space for contemplation has seen composer Anthony Ritchie make the most of over 23 years in Otago’s Te Kāhui Tau - School of Performing Arts, Music programme.
“I enjoyed the stimulus you get from students and staff, and it kept me inspired about my own work. Getting an atmosphere of collaboration going is wonderful,” Anthony says.
His enormous contribution to the University and to music at an international level has been recognised with the awarding of an Emeritus Professor title on his retirement this April.
His musical gift is evident in the many and varied works he has composed over his career - more than 200 across the full spectrum of composition.
He takes much of his inspiration from Aotearoa New Zealand’s history and wildlife.
“There are lots of ways into composing. I recently wrote a piece for a bassoon and piano for someone in Scandinavia. It was the father of the bassoonist who asked - he was born in New Zealand and wanted a piece that was reminiscent of Northland, because he was homesick.
“At the other end of the spectrum, I have my own projects, large-scale symphonies, or whatever it might be, and there I want to tackle issues that concern me and sometimes they are extra-musical, the state of the world today, or more personal- and sometimes just a nice abstract piece that’s not necessarily about anything.”
Anthony completed his PhD in composition on the music of Hungarian composer Béla Barók, through the University of Canterbury. During his studies he spent a year in Budapest, Hungary during 1983-84.
Soon after, his connection with Otago began when he was awarded the Mozart Fellowship in 1988, and again in 1989.
“It was a lovely experience to be able to compose whatever I wanted for two years.”
Once again demonstrating that Otago’s Art Fellows so often enrich the community beyond their tenure, Anthony stayed on in Dunedin after his two years as the Mozart Fellow, initially freelancing as a composer.
“I got to know the community and establish myself as an individual here, whereas in Christchurch I felt like my father’s son. John Ritchie - my dad - was also a composer and a professor of music at Canterbury University.”
Anthony was brought on as a full-time staff member of Otago’s music programme by Sue Court in 2001 and offered a permanent position in 2003. Over the next 23 years, he taught and researched in composition, conducting, New Zealand music, contemporary classical music and music theory.
During his tenure, Anthony welcomed Otago’s shift from the classically focused music programmes of his student years to a more contemporary, popular range of offerings. This included the development of a Bachelor of Performing Arts, enabling students to study across the disciplines of music, theatre and dance.
The large shift he sees now is with new technologies.
“Things have exploded recently in terms of technology and knowledge. A musician these days is expected to be able to know a lot of different, diverse stuff, much more so than when I was a student.”
From left are Professor Anthony Ritchie, former students Nathaniel Otley and Ihlara McIndoe, and Emeritus Professor Peter Adams. Ihlara says Anthony and Peter are very important mentors to her and husband Nathaniel.
Anthony counts the many memorable students he’s encountered as one of the greatest pleasures from his time at Otago - including conductors Tecwyn Evans and Holly Mathieson, and Wellington composer Michael Norris. More recently, he taught Nathaniel Otley and Ihlara McIndoe, both composers and winners of the 2024 and 2025 SOUNZ Contemporary Award Te Tohu Auaha, respectively.
Anthony is delighted to have his album Melencolia nominated for the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards, alongside former student Michael Norris’ Rerenga in the Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau/Best Classical Artist of the Year category. The winner will be announced on 28 May at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards.
“Being around students really sparks my own creativity. It’s so enjoyable when they take a different direction and think for themselves. It has been a real pleasure to see where they go from Otago.”
One of Anthony’s highlights as a composer is his piece Gallipoli to the Somme, which makes a humanist statement about people’s experience of World War I. Performed in Oxford and London during WW1 commemorations in 2018, it was voted New Zealand's most popular classical music recording in the 2020 RNZ Concert programme 'Settling the Score' - the first time a New Zealand piece has achieved this.
He has also produced albums, including A Bugle Will Do with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by former student Tecwyn Evans.
Anthony’s composing and broader involvement in music will continue in retirement. He is currently working on his seventh symphony.
“I do find, as I’ve got older, that I tend to spend more time thinking about the piece before I start it. So, gathering ideas and not being too hasty to start it - whereas when I was young, I would just rip into it.”
He has a lifelong love of singing and was a member of the New Zealand Youth Choir when it was first formed in 1979. He was on the board of Choirs Aotearoa and is now Patron of City Choir Dunedin.
He will also spend more time on the croquet lawn - another area where he has achieved international success - representing New Zealand A against Australia and at the world championships in Florida, USA in 2009.
The joy of collaboration is woven through many of Anthony’s career highlights, and he plans for this to continue in retirement. He greatly appreciates his colleagues and plans to stay in touch, “helping out where I can occasionally”.
He is also grateful to the University for the support he received during a recent illness, particularly to the Head of the School of Performing Arts, Associate Professor Jen Cattermole.
On being made an Emeritus Professor, Anthony says, “It signifies that I feel valued, and also that I can have an ongoing bond with the University and the School, which is wonderful.”
You can explore and experience some of Anthony’s work on his website.
- Kōrero by Antonia Wallace
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