NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29911, 27 August 1962, Page 11

NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

First Concerts In City Young musicians forming ’.he 1962 National Youth Orchestra have assembled in Christchurch to give two public concerts in the Civic Theatre on Thursday and Friday. The orchestra began rehearsals yesterday for its first appearance outside Wellington.

The conductor (Mr John Hopkins) said yesterday that Christchurch would hear no school orchestra, but the cream of young plavers from ‘hroughout the Dominion The concerts were being held away from Wellington because it was hoped to spread activity in the concert field.

"The job ot moving to Christchurch has been a big undertaking, but we are happy to be here because there has been so much activity among young musicmakers I hope that these concerts will serve as a stimulus to their activities,” Mr Hopkins said The idea of the National Youth Orchestra grew from the need to fill the gap tn New Zealand between instrumental proficiency and the experience in orchestral olaying required of aspirants for engagement in the National Orchestra Jointly organised by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service and the Department of Education, the first orchestra was formed in 1959 For the 80 or 90 places available, there were 250 applicants. The programme for the two concerts will comprise Douglas Lilburn’s "Aotearoa Overture.” “Pavane.” by p aure. Symphony in D minor by Cesar Franck, and Tchai kovsky's “Nutcracker” Suite The soloist will be the Swiss pianist. Bela Siki. who will play Mozart’s seldom-heard Piano Concerto No. 16 in D