NZTrio Bids Farewell to Co-Founder

NZTrio Bids Farewell to Co-Founder

NZTrio pianist Sarah Watkins has announced that she is stepping aside from her work with the trio in 2018, marking a time of transition for the captivating and much-loved chamber ensemble.

After an impressive 15 years of playing with NZTrio, founding member Sarah is set to explore new avenues, shifting her focus toward the education and mentoring of younger players, as well as amping up her other collaborative work with various ensembles and musicians around the country. Developing a successful career with NZTrio has been a hugely rewarding experience for Sarah as a professional musician.

“I’m enormously proud of what we have achieved with NZTrio over the past 15 years, and it has been a real privilege to take our music to audiences around New Zealand and beyond,” said Sarah. “I’m now looking forward to sharing my passion for chamber music with the next generation of young musicians and, of course, continuing to appear on stage with wonderful friends and colleagues.”

Sarah will take to the stage with NZTrio for four more performances in Aotearoa, including two Art³ shows in Auckland in April and a performance in Motueka as part of NZTrio’s regional tour. After one last tour of China in May, Sarah’s final appearance is set to be a joyous and emotional affair with the Sayonara(h) Farewell Concert taking place at Auckland’s TSB Wallace Arts Centre, Pah Homestead, on June 5. Performing some of her favourite pieces from local composers as well as the greats of classical music, the special programme will be a fitting tribute to this gifted pianist and cherished colleague.

The announcement continues a phase of development and reinvigoration for NZTrio, with violinist Justine Cormack having departed last year. Continuing founder, cellist Ashley Brown is sad to be farewelling Sarah now, saying, “We’ll all miss Sarah’s deft touch, prodigious reading and eagle-eyes”. But he’s also philosophical about the change, adding, “15 years together is a strong legacy for any group. As a kind of custodian of this legacy, I am acutely aware of the importance of this next phase for NZTrio, where we entrust the group’s founding spirit to fresh new combinations.” The group will continue with business as usual, employing guest musicians until the search for two new permanent members is complete.

NZTrio is excited to be presenting an incredible line-up of supremely talented guest artists throughout 2018, with performances of their popular series at Q Theatre’s Loft (Auckland), The Piano (Christchurch), and City Gallery (Wellington), as well as a tour of China (May) and Australia (August).

Sayonara(h) Farewell Concert
Tuesday June 5, 7pm
TSB Wallace Arts Centre, The Pah Homestead, Auckland

Tickets via Eventfinda: $40 Adults / $20 Students
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/sayonara-h/auckland/hillsborough/tickets
Drinks and nibbles following performance

Programme:
Approx. 75 mins no interval
Brahms: Piano Trio no. 2 in C major op. 87 (I: Allegro)
Jack Body: Fire in the Belly
Ravel: Piano Trio (I: Modéré)
Chen Yi: Tibetan Tunes (II: Dui Xie)
Beethoven: Trio in E flat major op. 1 no. 1 (IV: Finale - Presto)
Claire Cowan: Subtle Dances
Saint-Saëns: Piano Trio no. 2 in e minor op. 82 (V: Allegro)

Three opportunities left between now and June 5th featuring Sarah as pianist:

NZTrio Art3: Mairangi Arts Centre
Saturday April 7, 7pm
20 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland
Tickets via Eventfinda: $40 Adults/$30 MAC Friends/$20 Students
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/nztrio-art3-mairangi-bay/auckland/mairangi-bay

NZTrio Art3: Nathan Homestead
Sunday April 8, 5pm
70 Hill Rd., Manurewa, Auckland
Tickets via Eventfinda: $40 Adults/Locals $25/$20 Students
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/nztrio-art3/auckland/manurewa

NZTrio Regional Tour: Motueka
Saturday April 14, 7.30pm
The Chanel Arts Centre, 31 High St., Motueka (map)
Tickets $20 Adults/$5 Students
Available from A Floral Affaire (03) 528 4726

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