Concerts
Upcoming concerts
Upcoming UYO concert dates and venues are listed below.
-
Winter concert
Sun 17th June 2012
Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts Centre, Univ of Waikato.
3pm
Entry by gold coin donation.
-
Spring concert (Joint with the Waikato Schools' Symphony Orchestra)
Sat 29th Sept 2012
Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts Centre, Univ of Waikato.
3pm
Entry by gold coin donation.
The UYO usually puts on, or takes part in, three or four concerts each year.
- Two major concerts are performed in mid-June (winter concert) and mid-October (spring concert) in the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts.
- Slightly shorter concerts are performed earlier in the year, normally in April or May, and sometimes one in September.
Opportunities to shine
Music director Yoshi Tatsumi encourages senior players to perform solo items with UYO, or to play in ensembles as part of our concerts. All performances are video recorded on DVD and students may use these performances as part of their NCEA assessments if eligible.
Our policy is to invite young, usually Waikato-based soloists to perform a concerto or solo item with the UYO at the June concert. Such soloists have included Mark Wang (piano), Poh-Suan Teo (violin), Mary Lin (piano), Helen Yang (violin), Oliver Barratt (clarinet), and Sam Chan (piano).
The Tekila and Eleganza ensembles have performed at UYO concerts, and in 2009 the Koru String Ensemble played at both main concerts.
Super soloists
We invite more senior and established soloists to perform with the UYO in the October concert. These have included Rachael Johnson and Rosalind Hill (cello); Riki McDonnell (tenor tuba); Craig Bradfield (bassoon); Bede Williams, Hirokazu Kobayashi (trumpet); Elaine Wogan, Amber Evermy (soprano); Monica Chang (piano); PohSuan Teo (violin); and Rafael Garlick-Grice (piano).
World premieres
In the October concert of 2008, the UYO played the premiere performance of Oliver Barratt's Overture "1939". Oliver was a long-standing member of UYO and wrote this piece towards his music studies at Waikato University. In the October concert of 2009, Catherine Steenson’s original work "Simply Love" was performed. In the June concert of 2011, the UYO played the premiere performance of Isaac Henderson's Crusaders Fable - A First Tier. Isaac was a member of UYO.