Skycity Starlight Symphony Returns To Auck. Domain

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 December 2004
Skycity Starlight Symphony Returns To
Auckland Domain - February 2005

SKYCITY is thrilled to announce the magic of the annual SKYCITY Starlight Symphony event will return to Auckland Domain on Saturday 19 February 2005 (rain date Sunday 20th February).

Some of New Zealand’s most promising new opera soloists will make their debut at the 2005 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony, direct from The NBR New Zealand Opera’s 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists programme. They are Paloma Bruce (Wellington), Sarah Wood (Thames), Rebecca Crabtree (Auckland) and Malcolm Ede (Wellington).

John Hawkesby is once again the charismatic MC for the event and returning are the Auckland Philharmonia with Brian Law as conductor and the SKYCITY massed choir conducted by John Rosser.

The show will make an exciting move from opera to modern music in the second half with highlights from Symphonic Rock 2003 and 2004, arranged and conducted by Penny Dodd. Well known local performers Frankie Stevens, Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross and Taisha will sing rock classics from Deep Purple, Michael Jackson and Joe Cocker.

Other highlights in the 2005 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony programme include the return of the Mercury Energy laser light show and annual crowd pleasers Pomp and Circumstance, Tchaikowsky’s 1812 Overture, The National Anthem and Now is the Hour to round off the evening.

The recipient charity for the 2005 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony will be Kidz First Children’s Hospital, based in Counties Manukau. SKYCITY has been proud to support Kidz First Children’s Hospital since 2000. More than 11,000 New Zealand children are admitted to Kidz First hospital each year and some 20,000 children are treated for emergency care. Funds raised at the SKYCITY Starlight Symphony will support Kidz First’s ongoing work to boost the health of our young ones. The charity is currently calling for up to 500 volunteers to help collect donations and sell official light sticks to raise funds at the event.*

“We’re thrilled to be involved with this event for the seventh consecutive year,” says Delwyn Lewer, SKYCITY spokesperson.

“Every year the event seems to grow and attracts nearly a quarter of a million people making it one of the country’s largest free community performance events,” she says.

The Giltrap Motor Group has confirmed it will be the associate sponsor of the 2005 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony for the third year running.

The concert, also supported by Auckland City, will begin at 7:45pm and is estimated to conclude at around 10:15pm. A postponement date at the same time on Sunday 20 February will apply if heavy rain occurs on the morning of the 19th February. Official radio station, More FM, will carry postponement details from around midday on the 19th February 2005.

As well as Kidz First Children’s Hospital, SKYCITY’s sponsorship portfolio includes The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, Starship Children’s Hospital, the New Zealand Special Olympics Foundation, The NBR New Zealand Opera, Auckland Rugby and the Vodafone Warriors.

- Volunteers to help raise funds at the 2005 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony for Kidz First Children’s Hospital will be required from 4pm to approximately 10pm. Meals and refreshments for all volunteers will be supplied and their support will help Auckland’s children. To register to become a volunteer to help collect donations and sell light sticks at the 2005 SKYCITY Starlight Symphony, please contact Jane at P10 Special Events on 09 3092 007 or email jane@p10.co.nz.

ENDS

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