Concerto competition attracts varied entries

Press, 6 December 1989, Page 27

Concerto competition attracts varied entries

The preliminary rounds for the twenty-third National Concerto Competition will take place in the James Hay Theatre on December 12 and 13. This year’s competition, which is for instruments other than the keyboard, has attracted 35 contestants, the largest number for 10 years. Seven contestants will compete at each of the five first-round sessions. These are timed for 9.15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. on the Tuesday and 9.15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Wednesday. The six semi finalists chosen from the sessions will perform on Wednesday evening. The contestants come

from all over New Zealand although the biggest contingent, 12, comes from Christchurch. There are 11 from Auckland, seven from Wellington, the rest of the North Island provide three competitors and the balance come from Dunedin.

Contestants have to be under 25 years of age and the youngest this year is aged 13. Amongst the entries is the third placed competitor for 1988, Katherine Hebley (cello) from Hawkes Bay.

A wide diversity of instruments and concertos will be played. One novelty is the Concerto for Timani by Tharichen, which will be played by

Nigel McGregor, the timpanist in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Other "firsts” are the Concerto for Double Bass by Dragonetti, played by Richaed Hardie from Lower Hutt, and the Ginastera Harp Concerto, to be performed by Helen Webby of Auckland. Of the remaining concertos 17 are for strings, 14 for woodwind and two for trumpets. The most popular instruments are flute, violin, and cello. The concertos chosen range from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, including concertos by Mozart, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Weber, Elgar and Khachaturian. The contestants are re-

quired to play up to 20 minutes from their concerto to piano accompaniment. The accompanists include Rosemary MillerStott, Wallace Wlldley and lola Shelley. The judge, Kathleen Hinchcliffe, is in New Zealand as an examiner for the Trinity College of Music. She is Principal Lecturer and Head of Music at Rachel McMillan College, London University. She has directed and adjudicated at music festivals, and conducted large choirs and orchestras. After the semi-final session on Wednesday night she will choose three contestants to go forward to the final on Saturday,

April 7, 1990, when they will play the whole of their concerto with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Southgate, in the Christchurch Town, Hall. The judge for the final will be a former conductor of the N.Z.5.0., John Hopkins. The competition is run by the Christchurch Civic Music Council. This year assistance has been received from both the Southern Regional Arts Council and the 1990 Commission. In recognition of New Zealand’s special year each of the finalists will also play a short piece by the New Zealand composer at the final contest.