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• Sunday 13 Sep 2009         5pm
  Concert Chamber, THE EDGE® 
  A Resonance of Emerald  

  

  Helen Medlyn mezzo                    
  Music by Eve de Castro Robinson
    
  A Resonance of Emerald             
  Commemoration for solo cello           
  Len Songs             
  These Boots (are made for dancing)                          
  Chaos of Delight II              
  Noah’s Ark

  “And as for ‘why do I compose?’ There seems to be an inner surge of creative energy which must spring out and manifest itself in musical form. This usually involves much gazing out at trees and water (two life forces) and summoning up embryonic flickers and traces of sounds and ideas which may agree to be shaped and manipulated into larger forms and structures. I’m continually trying to figure out how to bridge the gap between being able to allow something to come into being and then to make some personal ‘concrete’ sense of it. I do try to achieve a balance between the peace of mind necessary for depth and clarity of contemplation, and the open and trusting (and therefore extremely vulnerable) state of being that is creative. I can only compose from inner conviction and speak with my heart. And I often return to a statement by Berio, who sees music as ‘a gift to be given and a gift to be received’ ". Eve de Castro Robinson

   

   

  Wednesday 21 Oct 2009
  7.30pm  Concert Chamber, THE EDGE® 
          
  ACO in Blue
          
  Sarah Watkins piano
  Read Gainsford piano
  Peter Scholes conductor & clarinet

  Igor Stravinsky          Ebony Concerto
  Leonard Bernstein          Prelude Fugue and Riffs
  George Gershwin          Rhapsody in Blue
  John Adams Grand          Pianola Music

  The ACO, disguised as a jazz band delivers some of the hottest jazz inspired music including the amazing Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin in its original form as played by the Paul Whiteman Big Band.

   

   

  Sunday 29 Nov 2009     
  5pm  Concert Chamber, THE EDGE®
  Birthday Bash
  10th year celebration

  Peter Scholes conductor
  Emma Sloman voice
  Claire Scholes voice

  What’s that Spell?
  Garage Sale
  Mozart’s Musical Joke
  Just a Gigolo with special guest Frank Olsson
  Some songs from Façade
  Pizzicato Polka
  Minute Waltz
  Haydn’s Surprise
  Knees Up Mambo
  Happy Birthday Variations
  ......and more

   

  Peter Scholes was guest speaker at the Centre for New Zealand Studies,
  at Birkbeck, University of London on 30 July 2009 located directly behind the British Museum)

If you go to this address you will find details of the activites and resources.
CNZS Public Events

<http://www.bbk.ac.uk/cnzs>

They host regular guest talks. Guest speakers have included Hamish Keith, Vincent O'Sullivan, Lloyd Jones, Bill Manhire, Jock Phillips, and Elizabeth Smithers. These events have included a series of Film Masterclasses with Vincent Ward, John Barnett, John Reid, Kerry Fox, and Don McGlashan.

Sunday 19 Jul 2009 
5pm Concert Chamber, THE EDGE®
Wax Lyrical          

Chris Gendall          Wax Lyrical
Robin Toan          Barcelona Postcards  
Sam Holloway          Strange Loops       
Karlo Margetic          Svitac
Anthony Young          Firmament  
Dylan Lardelli          Four Fragments    
Claire Scholes          Schubert’s “Finished”

This concert is about as new as you can get so there is a lot to be happy about. After some gruelling days spent dealing with funding issues it is a relief to be preparing for this concert which brings to you the work of some outstanding composers. These are all premieres, some of them world premieres. Seven composers are represented and there are seven unique approaches to music. The freshness of this music has made for an intense rehearsal week with all musicians sharing in a process which is essentially about communication. The focus demanded by these composers is at times microscopic, as in divisions of a single beat into 72 parts, and at times macroscopic, when breaths are required beyond the limit of humans. It is music full of paradox and contradiction. It is now.

Seven works by seven of NZ’s top next generation of composers including the winner of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award 2008, Wax Lyrical. Hear the diversity, excitement and challenge of this 100% NZ music concert. We are sorry we had to remove Michael's great piece "Splinter Cells" from the programme. It's on the cards for next year though.

Here is link to Herald article...

Here is link to review

 

Sunday 21 Jun 2009 
5pm   Concert Chamber, THE EDGE® 
Alexa Still

Peter Scholes conductor
Alexa Still flute
                 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart          Flute Concerto
David Hamilton                Hine Raukatauri (World Premiere"
Claire Scholes                  4 Seasons in 4 Minutes
Franz Schubert                Death and the Maiden 

Alexa Still has a hugely successful career as a soloist and recording artist. “Still’s skillful artistry is nothing but natural, pure and honest.” Sabine Kortals, Daily Camera
This concert is a must see and hear for flute fans. Schubert’s great Death and the Maiden quartet is a string quartet of symphonic proportions and is here presented in its arrangemnt for string orchestra.

 

Thursday 30 Apr 2009
6.30pm  Concert Chamber, THE EDGE® 
Schubert Chamber Music 

Patricia Wright soprano, Peter Scholes clarinet
David Guerin piano, Dianna Cochrane violin
Rachel Guan bassoon, Carl Wells horn
William Hanfling violin, Owen Gordon viola
David Garner cello, Evgeny Lanchtchikov bass   
                 
Franz Schubert           Shepherd on the Rock  
Franz Schubert           Octet  
ACO presents          Ave Maria

Welcome to this concert of glorious chamber music by Schubert. He is featured in many of our concerts this year.
He wrote some 600 lieder, nine symphonies as well as liturgical music, operas and a large body of chamber and solo piano music.
Apart from support from a close group of friends he was never able to secure adequate permanent employment and died at the age of 31. Interest in his music increased drammatically in the decades following his death with composers like Liszt, Schumann and Mendelssohn who collected and championed his works.
He is now widely considered to be one of the greatest composers in the Western tradition.
We hope you enjoy this music as much as we enjoy playing it!

This concert is a celebration of the musical genius of Schubert. Patricia Wright is guest artist in Shepherd on the Rock, a piece which combines the drama of art song with the intimacy of chamber music. Following the success on Beethoven’s Septet in 2008, we perform the magnificent Octet by Schubert. This is chamber music at its grandest.

Sunday 29 Mar 2009
5pm Concert Chamber, THE EDGE®
Music of the Night
Peter Scholes conductor
Ben Hoadley bassoon

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade, K.525)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Bassoon Concerto K.191, B flat major
ACO presents Clair de Lune
Franz Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 44 "Trauersymphonie"

Here is a rare opportunity to hear the bassoon featured as a solo instrument. The Mozart concerto exploits the lyricism and vocal qualities of the instrument. The Haydn symphony replaces the originally planned "Transfigured Night" by Schoenberg.

Sunday 1 March 2009 5pm
Chamber Music for Summer

Samuel Barber - Summer Music
Francis Poulenc - Sextet
Louis Spohr - Nonet

A delightful concert of wistful, elegant, humourous and lyrical chamber music.

Beethoven 2 
Sunday 23 Nov 2008   5pm     
Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, The Edge
Auckland Chamber Orchestra
Peter Scholes conductor 
Michael Houstoun piano

           

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  Overture to the Marriage of Figaro
Ludwig van Beethoven          Piano Concerto no. 2
Arvo Pärt                                 Fratres for Wind Octet and percussion
(Franz) Joseph Haydn           Symphony no. 104, (London)

This was Michael Houstoun's first performance with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. He played superbly with great sensitivity and passion. It was the final concert for 2008 and the orchestra gave out amazing energy. A big turn-out capped the success of the evening.

see the review

 

Wireless for Clarinet

The talented rising star clarinettist, Rowan Meade, played "Wireless" at his end of year recital at Auckland University School of music.

 

Beethoven Chamber Music    
Sunday 19 Oct 2008   5pm     
Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, The Edge

Beethoven Sextet for Winds
Beethoven Quintet for Piano and Winds
Beethoven Septet

Peter Scholes clarinet
Andrew Uren
Martin Lee oboe
Carl Wells horn
David Kay horn
Ben Hoadley bassoon
Kate Goldstone bassoon
Dianna Cochrane violin
Owen Gordon viola
David Garner cello
Daniel Stabler bass
Sarah Watkins piano

What a treat it was to make glorious chamber music with friends and fine players. Sarah Watkins is a great pianist and played the Beethoven very lyrically. The Septet lived up to its popularity factor with a standing ovation by the audience. We are going to play the Spohr Nonet in 2009. Sadly no review - the Herald seem to be cutting back on the concert review section. Also watch out for performances by Ben Hoadley - he is a great bassoonist and very musical - he makes it sing.

 

The Man from Olympus
Sunday 28 Sep 2008   5pm                            
Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, The Edge
Auckland Chamber Orchestra
Peter Scholes conductor, clarinet                  
John Psathas composer                     
Read Gainsford piano

Read the Herald preview

Read the Herald review

John Psathas                          Fragment
John Psathas                          Island Songs (1995)                                    
John Psathas                          Abhisheka
John Psathas                          Ancient Greek Fragments                             
John Psathas                          Three Psalms (Piano Concerto)

 

 

"THE COUNTRY COMES TO TOWN"

Ponsonby Primary School Fair (Curran St, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand)
Saturday September 13 GREAT DAY it was too!
Garage Opera (Mr & Mrs Scholes) played at 2pm
Programme - Saltarello, Ophelia Song no.2, Welsh Song, Sumer is icumen in, Bach Musette. Habanera,
Harry on Holiday