The highlights, surprises and wisdom gained from The Racket Lounge 2025.

It's been a few weeks since we wrapped up the 2025 season of The Racket Lounge. We presented four concerts across four months, featuring 31 incredible local artists who performed an eclectic mix of tunes, including six brand-new pieces of music by emerging Wellington composers. And all of it was brought together by a talented young artist, Ella Dowsett-Farmer!

Ella joined us in the office as our Events Coordinator, a role created as part of an internship opportunity for an early-career musician to learn the ins and outs of running a concert series. She has now finished up her time with us in the office, so we sat down to dig into her experience and find out the highlights, surprises and wisdom she gained from The Racket Lounge 2025.

1.      What has been the highlight of your time working in the NZSQ Office?

My highlight has to be being a part of the team. The support has been stellar and I was ‘in with the crew’ from the start, experiencing the rollercoaster that is working in the arts! Having the opportunity to contribute to the wider running of the organisation was also excellent - so much goes into these concerts and events that you might not think of.

2.       Was this experience what you were expecting? Or were there surprises along the way?

There were definitely surprises along the way! If there’s one thing I’ve discovered about arts management it's that sometimes things are going to change in an instant and you have to be ready for that, whether it’s equipment malfunctioning or Wellington’s weather having a moment (again!). Being able to take a breath and keep soldiering on knowing that the world won’t end if things don’t end up exactly how you expected is something I’ve had to learn, and sometimes it works out for the better!

3.      What do you think The Racket Lounge brings to Pōneke?

Coming into this internship I thought that The Racket Lounge brings a fresh perspective to music in Poneke by providing a platform for (particularly early career) musicians to experiment with their work in a non-traditional environment, and I still stand by this now. So much of our time as classical musicians is spent in concert blacks playing in these fantastic halls with a lot of expectation and pressure riding on our backs. Having a more laid back environment around often gives a platform for projects and ideas that maybe don’t quite fit into those contexts a chance to shine, not to mention it’s a chance to get out and have a bit of fun! This kind of space is invaluable to a city like Wellington which is full of creatives looking for ways they can share their work.

4.      Do you have any words of wisdom for future arts interns and Racket Lounge performers?

For both I would say take any opportunity that comes your way with both hands - you never know where it might take you and regardless of how it turns out you will get something out of your experience. You might discover something you love!

5.      What's next for you?

After four years straight of study I am taking a hard earned break from my education over the next year to work and live life a bit! Working while studying is full on, and I’m looking forward to being able to go back to some of my hobbies that have been a bit neglected over the years. This will (of course) involve some gigs - you’ll still see me and my viola around!

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Ella completed her Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance - Viola in 2024 and has recently completed her Honours study at the New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōkī. She began tutelage on violin at age 8 but discovered viola at 13 and quickly made it her main instrument. Since then she has played in many orchestral ensembles including the Hawkes Bay Orchestra and Wellington Youth Orchestra, and attained the position of Principal Viola in the 2024 NZSO National Youth Orchestra. She has also worked alongside the NZSO viola section as a part of the NZSM & NZSO Festival in 2023, and has played in an NZSO Masterclass run by violist Alexander McFarlane. Ella takes any opportunity she can get to collaborate with musicians in a wide range of genres, from classical music to modern musicals and has a love for chamber music that was cultivated in the 2024 and 2025 Adam Summer Schools. 

Aside from music Ella enjoys playing tabletop games with her friends, practicing archery, and rocketing through books at an alarming rate. Ella is currently studying under Gillian Ansell, violist of the New Zealand String Quartet.