Chamber Music NZ Increases Concerts Nationwide

Chamber Music New Zealand Increases Concerts Nationwide In Anniversary Year

For the second year running, Chamber Music New Zealand has increased the number of concerts that it will present in smaller centres throughout New Zealand. In 2000, 56 concerts will be presented in centres as diverse as Motueka, Tauranga, Kaitaia, Taupo, Queenstown and Gore, an increase of 12 on the 44 concerts presented by New Zealand ensembles in 1999.

Chamber Music New Zealand's General Manager, Brian Budd, says that the significant increase in concerts reflects Chamber Music New Zealand's commitment to presenting top quality chamber music all over the country. "2000 is a special year for Chamber Music New Zealand as it's our fiftieth anniversary. Increasing the number of concerts we present in smaller centres by 25 percent is a great way to celebrate."

Chamber Music New Zealand presents concerts in smaller centres in association with a network of 27 local music societies. In 2000 there are nine tours, running from March to October:

With the exception of Oleg Marshev, all of the artists touring to Chamber Music New Zealand's Associate Societies are New Zealand- based or New Zealanders resident overseas. As part of their concert programmes they will present a number of works by New Zealand composers, including Douglas Lilburn, Jack Body, Michelle Scullion, Eve de Castro Robinson, and Ross Harris, as well as new works by Victoria Kelly, Maria Grenfell and Gareth Farr.

Chamber Music New Zealand has also increased the number of concerts in its 2000 Celebrity Season, featuring international and New Zealand artists performing in nine main centres (Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill). From 2000, the number of concerts featured in the Celebrity Season in Palmerston North and Dunedin increases from four to five, bringing the total number of concerts in the Celebrity Season to 47.

"Next year we are presenting well over a hundred events nationwide" says Brian Budd. "We're really looking forward to another fifty years of bringing the very best that New Zealand and the world has to offer to music lovers all over the country." Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges support from Creative New Zealand.

*Virtuoso Russian pianist Oleg Marshev is also performing as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's Celebrity Season, and will present a total of twenty concerts nationwide. ENDS....

For further information or a full concert calendar, contact Susannah Lees-Jeffries on (04) 384 6133 or email: chambermusicxtra.co.nz

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