With a Doctorate of Musical Arts to her name, and an orchestral career history boasting 15 years’ dedication to NZTrio, Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia, Sub-Principal 1^st Violinist in the NZSO, as well as positions on the judging panel of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, it’s hard to believe that Justine Cormack never intended a professional career in music.

Hailing from Christchurch, Justine planned to move to Auckland University to study architecture. The course required a general intermediate year, which included music as an option at Canterbury University. Justine took the music option and completed a music degree three years later. She planned to take a year off before returning to study architecture, but instead fell into a job with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Justine said that at that time, still, she “wasn’t even that serious about it.” She entered a young musicians competition, which involved playing a concerto with the NZSO, broadcast live on national television. Playing in front of her colleagues she said, “the potential for complete public humiliation was immense!” It was that experience that made her think “this is it.”

Interestingly, after having put her heart and soul into music for the last 25 years, and finishing up with NZTrio later this month, Justine is revisiting that original architectural dream and returning to the South Island to project manage the build of her new Central-Otago home. Looking forward to having some time and space for new opportunities to arise and evolve, Justine said, “It will be interesting to see where I’m led. I feel sure there will be a music influence, and that there will be some really exciting projects for me in the future. I’m absolutely not going there to retire!”

Further highlighting the ‘full circle’ feeling for Justine at this point, the final piece of her upcoming final concert is the Schubert B♭Piano Trio, which was the very first piece she played as a teenager with NZTrio pianist Sarah Watkins, preparing for the High School Chamber Music Competition. “It really feels like I’m at a complete point with NZTrio,” she said.

In addition to performing (which they do in a variety of less expected and less formal settings), NZTrio also visit high schools, hosting workshops on the life and career of musicians, “encouraging kids to recognise what inspires them and be creative about making a business out of it.” She said that when NZTrio first started out there was very little music available for piano trio, so they have had a huge impact on New Zealand chamber music through commissioning such a large number of original works for piano trio. “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved. That body of work is now available to everyone and lives on beyond us.”

Another highlight of her time with NZTrio, Justine said was the vast amount of international travel and feeling proud to “take New Zealand music to the world.” One of her favourite commissioned pieces Justine said is “Subtle Dances” by Claire Cowan. 

Justine has found over the course of her career that as a professional musician, “studying abroad is one of the best things you can do. For me it really reinforced just how strong the talent is here in New Zealand.” Justine gained her Master of Music degree at San Francisco Conservatory, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She found studying in America a “hugely supportive environment to really strive in. There was a sense that people were really behind you.” As a result of this experience, being a strong role model and celebrating others’ success has become Justine’s guiding principal.

Speaking about her 1868 JB Vuillaume violin, Justine said, “My life changed when I got that instrument. It reinvigorated my confidence and performance. I didn’t really realise how much I was struggling until I got it. Now, it’s like I’m working with a very close friend.”

Justine has played with NZTrio for the past fifteen years, and is currently playing a series of concerts throughout the North Island, with her last official concert Loft 1: Swoop on May 21 and 23 at Q Theatre, Auckland.