Presenter: Dr Kingsley Spargo
Title: Listening Beyond the Score: Sound Design as Music
Abstract:
When does sound become music - and who gets to decide?
This session by composer and sound designer Kingsley Spargo that repositions sound design as a musical medium in its own right - expressive, political, cultural, and evocative. Drawing on film, theatre, and experimental practice, with examples from his own work including the recent play Woman Far Walking and theatre and film versions of The Haka Party Incident, Kingsley invites audiences into a deeper way of listening that moves beyond melody and harmony toward atmosphere, and cultural resonance. The lecture traces the evolution of sound design alongside, and often in tension with Western ideas of music, asking when sound becomes music, who is recognised as a composer, and how political, Indigenous, and site‑specific contexts shape sound practice.
Key Takeaways:
- Expand your idea of what music can be: Explore how atmosphere, texture, space and sound can carry meaning and emotion even when there is no traditional melody or score.
- Hear how context shapes sound: Discover how cultural, political, Indigenous and site-specific perspectives influence sound design, and why questions of authorship and recognition matter.
Date:
This World of Music Workshop will run on Wednesday 18th November from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Venue:
We're pleased to be hosting this workshop at Symphonia Hall, an intimate performance venue in the heart of Auckland. With its exceptional acoustics and welcoming atmosphere, it provides a wonderful setting for music, creativity and shared learning.
About the expert
Dr Kingsley Spargo
Dr. Kingsley Spargo is an Auckland-based sound artist, composer, academic and educator whose work spans contemporary music, improvisation, theatre, and interdisciplinary performance. Kingsley’s practice explores the expressive possibilities of sound through collaboration, experimentation, and narrative-driven composition. He is also a curator and creative facilitator, contributing to exhibitions and performances through the Kim Meredith Gallery, where he works closely with artists to develop innovative, cross-disciplinary work.
With a career that bridges academia and the creative industries, Kingsley has performed and collaborated with a wide range of leading New Zealand artists and contributed to film, gallery, and live performance contexts. Known for his distinctive, exploratory approach to sound, he brings a deep commitment to creative inquiry, artistic community-building, and mentoring emerging practitioners. His work reflects a passion for pushing boundaries and fostering meaningful connections between people, place, and sonic experience.
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