Canadian Violinist Nikki Chooi Performs Wgtn Concert in June

Wednesday, 28 May 2014, 10:21 am
Press Release: Chamber Music New Zealand

Canadian Violinist Nikki Chooi Performs Wellington Concert in June

“Nikki Chooi enthralled in what would be a winning Sibelius, with blistering passion erupting from its ethereal opening pages.” – NZ Herald

Canadian violinist Nikki Chooi bewitched audiences and impressed the judging panel to win the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition. In June Nikki returns to New Zealand for the ‘winner’s tour’ taking him to 14 centres around New Zealand including a concert in Wellington.

A major part of the competition prize, the tour begins in Auckland with Nikki performing with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra before he heads off around the country as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s Kaleidoscopes season, finishing in Queenstown, then heading to Melbourne to perform a Musica Viva Australia concert.

Nikki (25), together with pianist Stephen de Pledge, performs at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Friday 20 June as part of the tour which also includes concerts in Rotorua, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, Christchurch, Auckland, Nelson, Waikanae, Blenheim, Invercargill and Dunedin.

“Every two years we look forward to touring the winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition around New Zealand,” says Chamber Music New Zealand chief executive Euan Murdoch. “This year we know our audiences are going to experience something very special from Nikki. He is an exceptional musician and has a wonderful way of communicating through music. A real highlight will be hearing his performances of Jack Body’s Caravan, a piece that was composed especially for the Competition last year and for which Nikki won the award for Best Performance of the New Zealand Commissioned Work.”

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The programme for the Wellington concert also includes Ravel’s gyspy Tzigane, Beethoven’s Sonata No 3 in E flat and cellist Ashley Brown will join Nikki and Stephen to perform Smetana’s Bohemian masterpiece, his piano trio of 1855.

During the Chamber Music New Zealand tour, Nikki and Stephen will be recording much of the repertoire for Atoll Records – a release is also part of the first prize package Nikki won last June.

Nikki Chooi is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and has just graduated from the Juilliard School of Music. As winner of the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank Competition, he currently uses the 1700 "Taft" Stradivari.

Nikki Chooi and Stephen de Pledge perform at the Michael Fowler Centre on Friday 20 June. Tickets are available through Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz and for more information visit www.chambermusic.co.nz

Nikki Chooi is presented in New Zealand by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Chamber Music New Zealand and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
The prestigious Michael Hill International Violin Competition is one of the top violin competitions in the world and has been held biennially since 2001. The winner receives $NZ40,000, a recording through Atoll, and a winner’s tour with Chamber Music New Zealand, and performances with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Harris Theater in Chicago and Musica Viva in Australia. Nikki Chooi also receives a tailored suit by Working Style and a customised professional development programme.

CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND 2014 ‘KALEIDOSCOPES’ SEASON: THE WINNER’S TOUR – NIKKI CHOOI with STEPHEN DE PLEDGE (piano)

WELLINGTON: Michael Fowler Centre | Friday 20 June 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz

CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND 2014 ‘KALEIDOSCOPES’ SEASON: THE WINNER’S TOUR – NIKKI CHOOI with STEPHEN DE PLEDGE (piano)

ROTORUA: Concert Chamber | Friday 6 June 7.30pm | Door sales only | Programme 2

HAMILTON: Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato | Sunday 8 June 5.00pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz Programme 2

NEW PLYMOUTH: Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace | Monday 9 June 7.30pm | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz | Programme 1

PALMERSTON NORTH: Speirs Centre | Wednesday 11 June 7.30pm (free pre-concert talk 6.45pm) | Book at Dash Tickets (06) 350 1922 www.dashtickets.co.nz | Programme 1

NAPIER: MTG Century Theatre | Thursday 12 June 8pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme 2

CHRISTCHURCH: Charles Luney Auditorium, St Margaret’s College | Friday 13 June 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme 3

NELSON: Old St John’s Church | Sunday 15 June 5pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme 3

AUCKLAND: Auckland Town Hall | Monday 16 June 8pm | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz | Programme 3

WELLINGTON: Michael Fowler Centre | Friday 20 June 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz | Programme 3

WAIKANAE: Memorial Hall | Sunday 22 June 2.30pm | Book by phoning 04 905 6070 www.waikanaemusic.org.nz | Programme 2

BLENHEIM: St Andrew's Church | Monday 23 June 6pm | Door sales only

INVERCARGILL: Civic Theatre | Tuesday 24 June 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme 1

DUNEDIN: Glenroy Auditorium | Saturday 28 June 7.30pm | Book at TicketDirect 0800 4TICKET (484 253) www.ticketdirect.co.nz | Programme 2

MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION RECITAL PERFORMANCE

QUEENSTOWN: Queenstown Memorial Centre | Sunday 29 June 7.30pm | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

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