Summer Music School develops with age

Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18 December 2003

Summer Music School develops with age

The annual Summer Music School, now in its fifth year, has a new governing body and a new sponsor. The school, which was formerly part of the Auckland Philharmonia Academy, now comes under the auspices of AP~SOM (a joint venture between the Auckland Philharmonia and University of Auckland School of Music, initiated in 2002 to enhance and strengthen the musical endeavours of both organisations by utilising their combined large range of resources in music performance and study). In addition, Sentinel Community Trust has just confirmed sponsorship of the Summer Music School.

Approximately 85 musicians from all over New Zealand and Australia (including 27 scholarship students) will participate in the Sentinel Community Trust AP~SOM Summer Music School which begins on Tuesday 13 January 2004 at St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland, and culminates in a (public) Grande Finale Concert on Sunday 18 January. Conductor Timothy Sexton, who made a huge impact at the 2003 school, returns from Australia by popular demand to conduct throughout the week.

Designed to cater for a wide range of musical talent and experience, the Sentinel Community Trust AP~SOM Summer Music School offers two complementary programmes.

The “Festival Orchestra” programme, for keen amateurs and advanced students, provides a nurturing, yet inspiring environment, with each section of the orchestra augmented by at least one, but often several Auckland Philharmonia musicians, who serve as leaders and coaches.

By audition only, the competitive “Premier Fellowship Orchestra” programme is for musicians who wish to work at a very advanced level and experience a professional orchestral environment. Premier Fellowship participants work with the majority of Auckland Philharmonia musicians for the duration of the school, receiving a highly structured and intensive experience. Special guest soloist Margaret Blades, (Deputy Concertmaster of the Adelaide Symphony) will join the Premier Fellowship Orchestra in the Grand Finale Concert, in addition to holding two master classes.

As well as master classes, sectionals, coaching and workshops, participants have the option of being involved in chamber music, co-ordinated by the University of Auckland School of Music, with each chamber group tutored by a member of the SOM faculty. The chamber groups are based on level of playing and include a brass ensemble, string trios and string quartets, woodwind quintets and various duos.

Open to the general public, the Grande Finale Concert at 11.30am on Sunday 18 January, features both the Festival and Premier Fellowship Orchestras performing works by Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Ravel, Moncayo, Falla, and Len Dances by New Zealand’s Eve de Castro Robinson, a work specially commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia. During the interval there is a barbeque for the audience and musicians. Adult tickets $30 (includes concert and barbeque). For bookings phone the Auckland Philharmonia on 0800-PHILHARMONIA (0800-744 542).

The Auckland Philharmonia and University of Auckland School of Music gratefully acknowledge Sentinel Community Trust for its sponsorship of the Sentinel Community Trust AP~SOM Summer Music School.
Special thanks also to the following scholarship donors:
University of Auckland School of Music (9 partial), Aotea Trust (6 full), Richard Jarman (2 full), MCSO (2 full), ASME – Auckland branch (3 partial), NZ Society for Music Education (2 partial), Rotary Club of Mt Eden (2 partial), and one each from Tom Hubbert, Cally McWha, Lloyd Williams, Mrs V. Lilley, and North Shore Harmony Club.

The Auckland Philharmonia receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and a major grant from Auckland City.

ENDS

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