"It's a real honour to work with Dame Gillian and to perform the work of someone of this calibre, composed by her while she was living in Alexandra," regional orchestra conductor Aart Brusse said.
"It's quite a buzz for us to be here at this occasion, performing this in front of the composer."
The occasion was the launch of her biography, titled Moon, Tides and Shoreline, by Australian author Noel Sanders.
The launch was held at Central Stories museum and art gallery in Alexandra and was combined with a farewell to Dame Gillian, who spent 16 months in the town as the Henderson Arts Trust artist in residence.
Writer Kevin Ireland, who is the new artist in residence, was welcomed in September, but Dame Gillian was overseas at that time.
The Dunedin composer said she loved her time in Alexandra and was grateful for the opportunity.
"Being back here brings back memories of the time I spent here, in Henderson House, looking out over the [Clutha] river. It was truly a life-enhancing time and gave me the opportunity to do so many things."
She missed the people, climate and landscape.
The publisher of her biography, Roger Steele, of Wellington, described her as a national taonga. Her biography was a wonderful story, although it did not contain all her secrets, he said.
"We all await her memoir and I know of one publisher who would be very happy to have it."
He "saluted" the arts trust for supporting the artist-in-residence scheme with "such gusto".
The 288-page book comes with a CD of the Five Central Landscapes music performed by the orchestra.
Henderson Arts Trust trustee Grahame Sydney said it was a privilege for the area to have hosted Dame Gillian, whose work was "revered".
"The artists in residence are allowed to put their feet up while they are on the residency, but no-one seems to," he said.
He was delighted the regional orchestra existed and said it was a night the orchestra members would always remember.
Central Otago could also boast several "luminaries" of the literary world, Mr Sydney said.
Kevin Ireland, poet Michael Harlow and children's book author Kyle Mewburn were all present at the launch.
