volume 32 number 03 | august 2014
Written & Compiled by Catherine Gibson
2014 NZCT Chamber Music Contest
National Finals
The National Finals of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest, showcasing the best of New Zealand’s young chamber musicians was held at the Charles Luney Auditorium, St Margaret’s College, Christchurch on 1 – 2 August. Twelve semi-finalists were chosen following 15 District Rounds – five groups from Auckland, four from Christchurch and one each from Hamilton, Wellington and Whangarei. We believe it might be the first time a group from Whangarei has been represented at the finals! Piano trios were the order of the day, with seven of the twelve groups in this popular combination. Other groups included the french horn, voice, flute, saxophone and percussion. After the Semi-Finals, adjudicators the Doric String Quartet commented on how
‘L’arc en ciel’ – winners of the 2014 NZCT Chamber Music Contest
stunning the standard of playing was by everyone. Six groups then went on to be selected for the National Final the following day. The semi-finalists met up with the adjudicators, who each gave valuable feedback to the groups. Many congratulations go to the winners of this year’s NZCT Chamber Music Contest, L’arc en ciel from Auckland and Christchurch with their exquisite performance of Movements 1 & 2 from Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor. L’arc en ciel, made up of April Ju (violin, Burnside High School, Christchurch), Francis Yoon (cello, Macleans College, Auckland) and Delvan Lin (piano, King’s College, Auckland) received the Wallace Arts Trust Prize of
$2,000 each. All three have been to the National Finals before and in 2013 pianist Delvan Lin was a member of the winning group (Sollertinsky Trio). This was the first year they have performed together, quite a big undertaking given that April, who lives in Christchurch, is many kilometres from Delvan and Francis in Auckland. Cellist Francis Yoon said, “We were all in the National Final last year and got to know each other quite well then. Through lots of planning and correspondence we came up with the outrageous plan to form an inter-city group entry”.
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© Wanaka Photography
From the Chief Executive I hope you enjoyed hearing the Doric String Quartet again last month as much as I did. Their ensemble unity and astounding control of dynamics stood out for me as something special. At the end of their national tour they adjudicated the finals of the 49th NZCT Chamber Music Contest in Christchurch. We’ve become accustomed to reaching for hyperboles every year when describing this iconic event so I thought I would leave it to the Dorics to give their first impressions. “It has been a huge honour and privilege to be here in Christchurch and to be the jury for this contest. Our time in New Zealand has ended in such an inspiring and positive way. If only we had something quite like this in the UK, it is truly a unique event.” John Myerscough, cello. “There’s this excitement around the country – at all the different centres we’ve toured to everyone talked to us about the contest and the amazing standard that it was likely to be. We could feel the sense of excitement and once we started to hear it for ourselves you realise what a big occasion this is on the New Zealand musical calendar. The fact it has been going for 49 years and has a big celebration planned next year is fantastic.” Alex Redington, first violin. Later this month we present Rhythm and Resonance in five centres featuring one of the ensemble masterworks of the 20th century, Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion. When we planned our season around the string quartet, we knew that this quartet combination would add the element of surprise and contrast. Four voices engaged in conversation, two pianists and two percussionists; Bartók is guaranteed to get your pulse going and will test the boundaries of the genre. Next month we welcome back the familiar faces of the Eggner Trio with Amihai Grosz playing together in a piano quartet combination. We’re delighted that they have added a work by New Zealander Anthony Ritchie to their tour programme. In October we return to string quartets and cap off the year with Aroha String Quartet making their debut on our main stages, and the mighty Borodin Quartet from Russia returns to perform Shostakovich and late Beethoven. Looking ahead to 2015 and without revealing too many secrets, we plan to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Chamber Music Contest by bringing together some of your favourite musicians and inviting them to perform some of your favourite chamber music. As we did back in 2010 when celebrating our 60th anniversary, we will present the same artists in all ten centres. We have launched the Contest Jubilee Appeal with the aim of securing the future of this event for the next 50 years. Please help us if you can. Thank you! Euan Murdoch
Chief Executive
Rhythm & Resonance
Music for two pianos and percussion with Diedre Irons (piano), Michael Endres (piano), Thomas Guldborg (percussion) and Lenny Sakofsky (percussion) A spectacular tour showcasing two grand pianos and a stage full of percussion performed by some of our favourite New Zealand musicians. This will be feast for the senses: exuberant and visionary, the centrepiece is Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion. Opening the programme is the exquisite Sonata for two Pianos by Mozart, followed by an arrangement of Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin for two marimbas. Catching up with the musicians ahead of their tour, Deidre had the following to say:
Q&A with pianist Diedre Irons: Mozart’s Sonata K448, a masterpiece of classical perfection was written for a concert in Vienna in 1781. What is it about this work that makes it so appealing? ‘This is the one which is supposed to be particularly therapeutic when the “Mozart effect” is mentioned. If we knew why this music fills us with joy every single time, we probably wouldn’t need it.’ Pianists don’t often get the chance to work together in a chamber music setting. What it is like to perform with another pianist as opposed to say performing in a piano trio or some other ensemble with different orchestral instruments? What are the advantages/disadvantages!? ‘It’s either together or it’s not. There’s no sliding around. Also, nobody really understands what it’s like to be a pianist except another pianist. I love that feeling of mutual understanding, almost conspiracy. I also love learning a million notes then getting together for that first rehearsal and Presto! 2 million notes.’ What is it like to perform the Bartók with the surrounded by the raft of percussion instruments? ‘I find the sheer volume and variety of the percussion in addition to the second piano totally exhilarating. The piece is suspenseful, tuneful, rhythmic, funny, mysterious, bombastic, tender, simple, complicated and an absolute blast to play.’
Touch Tour As part of CMNZ’s Accessibility Strategy we plan to extend and embed audio description into our annual programming to make our concert-going experience more engaging for sight impaired people. Audio description is a narration service that attempts to describe what the sighted person takes for granted. At the concert a trained audio describer will provide a live, objective description of the visual elements of the performance during pauses in the music. This is achieved using a headset with a microphone, transmitting to audience members wearing an earpiece. We will pilot this initiative at the Wellington and Auckland concerts of the dynamic and multi-sensory piano/percussion quartet “Rhythm & Resonance” when they tour in August and September. A touch tour of the instruments on stage before the concert will add to the experience. This tour is generously supported by the Deane Endowment Trust.
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Watch out for our 2014 music at mojo series, chamber music in a relaxed setting, taking place over three weeks at the Mojo Telecom Building and Mojo Vodafone Building in Auckland from 19 Aug – 3 Sept. With Auckland based ensembles Affetto, Donizetti Trio and V8 Vocal Ensemble. The Contest Regional Showcase held in Wanganui recently was a resounding success, with wonderful performances from all the Central District groups that took part. As part of the day, 34 students from 11 ensembles were also treated to an exclusive mentoring session, performances and feedback from Bryony Gibson-Cornish and Natalie Lin. Young musicians from the Wellington area had the opportunity to meet up with the Doric String Quartet at a networking luncheon held in association with the British High Commission. They learnt about possible study pathways in the UK from the Doric String Quartet and Contest Alumni already studying there.
Congratulations to Contest Alumni Sylvia Jiang, pianist (National Finalist in 2010) has been accepted for undergraduate study at The Juilliard School, New York. Kate Oswin, violin (Contest winner 2009 in Wäldchen Trio) has been accepted for postgraduate study at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Olivia Francis, violin (National Finalist in 2006) has been accepted for postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music, London.
Around CMNZ The Marie Vandewart Memorial Award, in recognition of outstanding service and commitment to fostering the love of chamber music was awarded to Shona Thomson from Invercargill at the National Finals of the Chamber Music Contest. Shona has been involved with Chamber Music New Zealand for 37 years. She is a Life Member and our current Branch Chair. In 2007 she was awarded the QSM for 30 years of service to chamber music. Congratulations to: Pip Want, CMNZ Contest Coordinator who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Holly on 22 July. Goodbye and safe travels to: Jessica Lightfoot our Operations Coordinator for the past four years. Jessica is off to live in New York for five years with her husband who is a Fulbright scholar. Welcome to new staff: Rachel Hardie who has begun in the role of Operations Coordinator and Wellington Concerts Manager and Gemma Robinson who is the new Business Support Administrator.
2014 Encompass Series On the road in August are two ensembles from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra – ACE Brass and Koru Wind Quintet. Followed by Stephen De Pledge (piano) with a programme called ‘Tell me the truth about love…’. Also touring soon are the Swiss based Faust Quartet with lead violinist New Zealander Simone Roggen (Contest winner 1996, 1997).
Creative New Zealand
Supporters
ABRSM • ASB Community Trust • Asia New Zealand Foundation Base Two • Canterbury Community Trust • Carolyn & Peter Diessl Community Post • Community Trust of Southland Deane Endowment Trust • Dragon Community Trust Dunedin City Council • Eastern & Central Community Trust Endeavour Community Foundation Farina Thompson Charitable Trust • Four Winds Foundation IHC Foundation • Infinity Foundation • Invercargill Licensing Trust Johnston Lawrence • KBB Music • KPMG • Marie Vandewart Trust McDermott Miller Strategies • New Zealand Community Trust Otago Community Trust • Phantom Billstickers Positively Wellington Venues • Pub Charity • Royal Over-Seas League SOUNZ • Sparks • THE EDGE • The Lion Foundation • The Southern Trust The Stout Trust • Tohu Wines • Trevkel Music Trust TSB Community Trust • Turnovsky Endowment Trust • Wallace Arts Trust Victoria University of Wellington • Wellington City Council Accommodation Suppliers Crowne Plaza Auckland Nice Hotel, New Plymouth • County Hotel Napier InterContinental Wellington Coffee Supplier: Karajoz Coffee Company Chocolatier: de Spa Chocolatier Floral supplier: Global Living CHAMBER MUSIC NEW ZEALAND Level 4, 75 Ghuznee Street, P.O. Box 6238, Wellington Tel (04) 384 6133 Fax (04) 384 3773 Level 3, 57 – 61 High St, PO Box 1425, Auckland Tel (09) 358 3589 Email: info@chambermusic.co.nz Website: www.chambermusic.co.nz BOARD Roger King (Chair), Paul Baines, Gretchen La Roche, Sarah Sinclair, Peter Walls, Lloyd Williams BRANCHES Auckland: Chair, Victoria Silwood; Concert Manager, Ros Giffney Hamilton: Chair, Murray Hunt; Concert Manager, Gaye Duffill New Plymouth: Chair, Joan Gaines; Concert Manager, Susan Case Hawkes Bay: Chair, June Clifford; Concert Manager, Liffy Roberts Manawatu: Chair, Graham Parsons; Concert Manager, Virginia Warbrick Wellington: Concert Manager, Rachel Hardie Nelson: Chair, Annette Monti; Concert Manager, Clare Monti Christchurch: Chair, Colin McLachlan; Concert Manager, Jody Keehan Dunedin: Chair, Terence Dennis; Concert Manager, Richard Dingwall Southland: Chair, Shona Thomson; Concert Manager, Jennifer Sinclair For all Concert Managers phone 0800 CONCERT (266 2378) Regional Societies located in: Blenheim, Cromwell, Gisborne, Gore, Hutt Valley, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Motueka, Rotorua, Tauranga, Upper Hutt, Waikanae, Waimakariri, Wanaka, Wanganui, Warkworth, Wellington, Whakatane and Whangarei. © Chamber Music New Zealand 2014 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of Chamber Music New Zealand.
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2014 NZCT Chamber Music Contest
National Finals Alex Redington, first violinist from the Doric String Quartet commented, “We were really looking for the group that would absolutely communicate with the audience,that were technically at a really high level, but would be free to really communicate. We were looking for a great range of emotions and colours and think that is what we really found from quite a few of the groups, but outstandingly in the winning group.” The other finalists were Eklamoré, Trio Emporté and Kalim from Christchurch along with Exaudio and Schmitten from Auckland.
Geeny Moon (french horn) performing as part of Eklamoré
Eklamoré from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in Christchurch were awarded the KBB Music Award for an ensemble featuring wind, brass or percussion, with their performance of the second movement from the Trio in E flat major Op 40 for Horn, Violin and Piano by Brahms. An integral part of the contest is the Original Composition Senior and Junior Sections, this year adjudicated by composer Philip Norman, with prizes
Original Composition winners Isaac Shatford (Senior Award) and Lyndon Alford (Junior Award)
generously donated by both SOUNZ and CANZ. Congratulations to both Senior Award winner Isaac Shatford (St Andrew’s College, Christchurch) for his piece Frost and Fire for String Quartet and Junior Award winner, Lyndon Alford (Henderson High School, Auckland) for Small Furry Creatures for two flutes and violin. Whilst the adjudicators were making their final decision, the audience was treated to a beautifully paced performance of Isaac Shatford’s Frost and Fire for String Quartet and also Ryan Youens’ Kiwi in Appalachia (inspired by Aaron Copland) by Appalachian Octet (Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland), who were the winners of the National Award for the Best Performance of a New Zealand Work (in association with SOUNZ and CANZ).
2015 Jubilee year, celebrating 50 years of the Chamber Music Contest. This milestone year will be a ‘celebration of youth’ with many wonderful events, concerts and festivities along the way! Acknowledgement of ongoing and generous support: NZCT, Wallace Arts Trust, ABRSM, KBB music, SOUNZ and CANZ. Valued funding partner: Creative New Zealand
This year social media again played a large role in the way the contest was shared, with blog updates and up to the minute Facebook posts, photos and videos. All performances were recorded by Radio New Zealand and videoed by McCarthy Communications. Radio New Zealand will broadcast the semi-final performances on Young New Zealand at 3pm on 10 and 17 August and the finals on 24 August. We would like to acknowledge everyone including the performers, teachers, families, volunteers and supporters who were involved in the contest, from the District Rounds to the National Finals. As we come to the end of our 2014 Contest it is with much excitement we announce our
Donate and secure the Contest for the future Give a gift to our Foundation today and support aspiring young musicians. For more information, visit chambermusic.co.nz/support-us 50th Jubilee Core Patron: Sir James Wallace KNZM
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