Manawatu Sinfonia & Manawatu Youth Orchestra
Upcoming Concert:
Objectives
- To foster in young musicians a life-long interest in orchestral music
- To provide an opportunity for members to develop their musicianship and explore the orchestral repertoire in public performance
- To work co-operatively with other musical groups in the area and support their events
- To promote orchestral music within the community
- To provide affordable family concerts in Palmerston North
Orchestras
- Manawatu Youth Orchestra
- Conductor: Current resident conductor Isaac Henderson
Membership of the Manawatu Youth Orchestra averages around 50 players, with a good balance of sections. We welcome new players in all sections, though there may occasionally be limits in the woodwind section. Auditions are held in February each year, for more information see our 'Join Us' page. We perform two main concerts a year and also a variety of charity and schools events.
- Manawatu Sinfonia
- Conductor: No resident conductor. Recent guest conductors have included members of the NZSO and NZ School of Music.
We perform three or four main concerts a year, with a variety of styles to suit a range of audiences and provide interest and challenge to the players. Concerts often feature a professional soloist in a concerto and a large-scale symphony. We sometimes invite guest players to augment our numbers and fill any gaps in instrumentation.
Committee
Patron: Morva Croxson
President: Jeff McNeill
Vice-Presidents: Sir Brian Elwood, Milja Albers-Pearce
Secretary: Gillian Gibb
Treasurer: Bronwyn Boddy
Librarian: Lynette Quinn
Concert Manager: Robert Elder
Other Committee Members: Gabrielle Gibb, Isaac Henderson, Emma Mill, Ping Peng, Russell Poole
Support and Funding
The orchestra is a registered charity which is funded from member subscriptions, concert door takings, and valued support from various organisations. Like many such organisations, we are dependent on assistance, grants, and sponsorship in order to continue to provide a quality educational and cultural service to the community. If you think that you may be able to help support what we are doing, please contact us.
Links to other related groups
We welcome Rolf Gjelsten, long-serving member of the New Zealand String Quartet, who is to perform the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Manawatu Sinfonia at our upcoming concert on 19 May.
How to join
Click here for details on how to join the Manawatu Youth Orchestra or the Manawatu Sinfonia.
