COMMUNITY NEWS
Auckland Welsh Choir
If Christmas is about family and children, then the Auckland Welsh Choir Christmas Concert is a perfect start. Featuring the angelic voice of eight- year-old boy soprano, Lukas Maher, as well as four separate ensembles from One Tree Hill College, the choir’s first ever festive Christmas concert will present a great line-up of top talent. With focus on fundraising for Kidz-first hospital, it will showcase outstanding young musicians in combination with the seasoned singers of Côr Cymreig Auckland, who present their usual polished solo and choral performance.
Christmas Concert Showcase
Well-loved music abounds, accompanied by piano or organ, or sung a cappella. In a thoroughly seasonal timbre, some of the city’s finest young brass players will provide backings and fanfares in true mediaeval style for traditional carols. The beautiful contemporary music of John Rutter will take a well-deserved place alongside other popular classics, such as a superb choral and orchestral arrangement of O Holy Night. We are delighted to welcome Terence Maskell in his role as director of the Male Voice Chorale and Mixed Voice Chamber Choir of
One Tree Hill College. Our conductor, Diana Williams-Rhodes expects this to be a concert the whole family will enjoy, so get your tickets early and enjoy the best of the festive season while you contribute to this very worthy cause for kids. Tickets are available on iticket.co.nz, and there will be door sales as well. For further information email secawc@gmail.com. Alternatively, phone Anne on 021 132 4073. Diana Rhodes (Music Director)
Friends of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Our Friday mornings in the Ellerslie War Memorial Hall seem to be getting better and better. In early October, we were entertained magnificently by two members of the Orchestra and a third player, who form a group known as “Ace Brass Trio”. They light-heartedly talked about their instruments and their musical careers, and played superbly, showing us how gentle and lyrical trumpet, horn and trombone can be. This was followed by the most interesting interview with Henning Kraggerud, who had played the Bruch violin concerto with the orchestra the previous night. As he never goes anywhere without his violin, crafted in the mid-1700s, he was able and willing to play for us. Our first Friday in November was equally
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memorable, although somewhat sadder, as we farewelled Eckerhard Steir who has been the musical director for the Orchestra for seven years. As well as being an extremely talented classical musician maestro, Steir is a brilliant jazz pianist and we were given a glimpse into this side of his life. Our final morning for this year will be on Wednesday 25 November at 10.30am. We are hoping this will be quite spectacular and I think that people living in the area will find they may know some of the people who will be performing for us. If you would like to be part of these mornings, become a ‘friend’ and help us to support our orchestra. You may attend any of these meetings as a visitor for the small fee of $15.00, which includes a finger food lunch. However,
if you are a member, you will receive a programme each six months which will give you the dates and details of each meeting. The door fee for members is only $12 and includes lunch. For more information ring Bryce Bartley on 580 1964. We look forward to meeting you on 25 November and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a musical next year.