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Hamish McKeich
Hamish McKeitch is a conductor and performs as principal contra-bassoonist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra NZSO. He is also electric bassoonist and conductor of Stroma, 175 East in Auckland, Auckland Philharmonia, Opera New Zealand, Wellington Sinfonia, Amalgam, and other groups.
Hamish made his New Zealand conducting debut in 1998, conducting the Auckland Philharmonia in collaboration with Opera New Zealand.
Hamish was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and began bassoon studies with his father, Christchurch woodwind impresario, Rosslyn McKeich. From 1984–1985 he studied in Wellington with Colin Hemmingsen and played for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the four regional orchestras.
In 1986 he moved to Sydney, where he studied bassoon with Gordon Skinner. In 1987, at the age of 19, he took the position of Associate Principal Bassoon with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. The following year he won the New Zealand National Concerto Competition and was a finalist in Young Performer of the Year in Australia. That same year, 1988, he made his conducting debut in Sydney.
In 1989 Hamish McKeich began studying conducting in London with Lawrence Leonard and Sian Edwards. During his three years there he worked as assistant conductor of the Morley Opera Company (London) and conducted the Morley Chamber Orchestra.
He moved to Amsterdam in 1992, where he conducted orchestral, opera, music-theatre, and instrumental repertoire and gave many premiere performances of music by Dutch, British, and American composers.
What made you want to play in the orchestra?
Being part of a large (90+) group of musicians performing difficult music is very exciting. Plus, we make a lot of noise which can be fun too!
Do you get paid to play in the NZSO?
We do get paid to play in the NZSO. All of us have spent as long as a doctor (sometimes even longer) in training and at college, so after all those years it’s needed.
How much does a bassoon cost?
A bassoon can cost from a few thousand dollars up to $60,000 (like mine).
How many bassoons do you have?
I have just one but it’s a really good one and very rare and expensive.
Do you play any other instruments?
I used to play piano, oboe, and french horn. I just play bassoon and electric-bassoon at the moment but I specially like to conduct and I do quite a bit of this.
What’s your favourite kind of music?
It’s hard to just have one! In fact I have several favourite kinds of music, classical, obviously and also jazz, free-improvisation, thrash, alternative etc. If it’s good music that’s the important thing, it doesn’t matter what genre it is.
What famous people have you met?
I have met a few famous conductors and soloists including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as well as New Zealand's past Prime Minister Helen Clark when she came to listen to the orchestra in Auckland. People tend to mistake me for Bob Geldof (though I am really not trying to look like him), so I feel like I have met him too.
What’s your favourite CD?
Well I have so many favourite CDs it’s very hard to pick one but the latest CD I really like and have listened to a lot is Radiohead Amnesiac. They’re a really great band.
Where is your favourite place you have ever been?
I’ve spent time working in the north of Spain and always had a fantastic time. Very nice lifestyle.
