Charasmatic Conductor For NZSO Youth Orchestra '02

31 July 2002

MEDIA RELEASE

RETURN OF CHARASMATIC CONDUCTOR FOR NZSO NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA 2002

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra announces its 2002 concerts with the welcome return of Boston conductor Benjamin Zander, who led the NZSO National Youth Orchestra in the successful 1999 concert as part of the Apec Conference.

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra sponsor family welcomes new supporting sponsor - Spotless Services (NZ) Ltd alongside existing sponsor Forsyth Barr Ltd, Forsyth Barr Frater Williams Ltd, whose generosity enabled the orchestra to perform a concert in Auckland, as well as Wellington, again this year. The Adam Foundation was welcomed as Principal Sponsor in 2000.

The orchestra will meet in Wellington, commencing rehearsals on 17 August for a week of music making under fully professional conditions, which will culminate in a public concert on Friday 23 August at the Michael Fowler and a concert at the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday 25 August.

The NZSO National Youth Orchestra is made up of the country's most promising young musicians from all over the country, who have been selected by live audition. This year's Concertmaster is Aucklander Lara Hall whose younger siblings, Elroy and Amelia, are also playing the violin as part of the orchestra. Lara was last Concertmaster of the youth orchestra in 2000.

Conductor, Benjamin Zander has been the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic since its formation in 1979. Using music as both metaphor and medium, he has also become a much sought-after speaker to major organisations, bringing his insights as the conductor of a symphony orchestra to leaders involved in transformation and change within industry.

The programme will comprise of Charles Ives' Three Places in New England that encompasses commonly known American tunes, and the enchanting Firebird Suite by Stravinsky with its magic and mystery, glitter and sparkle. The second half of the concert features Brahms grand Symphony No 4, the last symphony he wrote and represents some of the most beautiful and innovative music of the nineteenth-century.

Following the success of last year's lunchtime concert at St Andrew's on the Terrace, orchestra members will present a programme of chamber music on 21 August.

Established in 1959, the National Youth Orchestra occupies a unique place within New Zealand's music culture. It has served as a training ground for many New Zealand musicians who are now leaders in their chosen fields. Today's NZSO, along with many other world orchestras, numbers among its personnel many musicians who started their professional training in the NYO.

PROGRAMME

NZSO NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA 2002

AUG 23 Friday, 6.30pm THE MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE WELLINGTON AUG 25 Sunday, 7.30pm TOWN HALL AUCKLAND

Benjamin Zander - conductor IVES: Three Places in New England STRAVINSKY: Firebird Suite (1919) BRAHMS: Symphony No 4

TICKETS $20, $6 Students Book at Ticketek Wgtn: 04 384 3840 Akl: 09 307 5000

For further information on the NZSO National Youth Orchestra please contact Hannah Evans on (04) 801 3833/025 300 680.

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