NEWSLETTER

FENG NING and MICHAEL HOUSTOUN

What a super last concert. A really interesting programme and wonderful playing (a particular favourite was Diedre Iron's rendition of Rhapsody in Blue). And a good turnout, which is great for the artists and great for the long term future of the Society.
We always have one or two straggler items left behind. Last month's ones have been claimed but now we have a black and white paisley cushion. If you think it's yours, ring Wendy van Delden on 905 6070.

TICKETS FOR JUNE CONCERTS
During the 2005, season numbers attending our concerts averaged 194. Attendances at the first two concerts in the current year have been 339 and 289, an average of 314. Interest being shown in the performances scheduled for June suggests that numbers could rise further. Tickets are available now (at our usual prices) at Bookstacks in Raumati and at Waikanae New World. Buying in advance will ensure that you avoid the worst of the queues on the day and that you are seated without undue delay.

Per concert price:
Members $15
Public $21
Under 20s no charge

OUR FIRST JUNE CONCERT brings us a stupendous, not to be missed combination - the 2005 Michael Hill International Violin Competition winner, Feng Ning, accompanied by Michael Houstoun. The Competition is very demanding and, in 2005 for the first time, there was an additional semi-final chamber music stage. But Feng Ning also comes with superb credentials gained before this Competition win.

SUNDAY 11 JUNE AT 2.30PM WAIKANAE MEMORIAL HALL

FENG NING and MICHAEL HOUSTOUN

Some details of the programme have been incorrectly advertised in the last newsletter. The correct programme is as follows:


FRANZ SCHUBERT

Fantasy in C for Violin and Piano


ERNEST CHAUSSON

Poéme Op 25 (this is an extremely luscious piece)


GABRIEL FAURÉ

Sonata in A, Op 13


NICCOLO PAGANINI

Le Streghe, Opus 8

FENG NING, violin, was born in Chengdu, China in 1981. In 1992 he began studies at the High School of Sichuan Conservatoire of Music under Prof Weimin Hu. In 1997, he won the Grand Prize and the First Prize for violin in the 5th International Art Competition for High School Students in Takasaki, Japan, and was invited by the Competition Committee to perform in Tokyo and to make a recording for JVC Victor Records.

In 1998, Feng Ning went to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Prof Hu Kun. The following year, after a master class, he was invited by the late Lord Yehudi Menuhin to perform in Germany. In the same year, he won the "Association Damson Francois-Scarbo" prize in the International Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris. The winner of many awards, he made his Wigmore Hall recital debut in June 2001.

In June 2003, Feng Ning was the first student ever in the history of the Royal Academy to get the full marks for his Final Recital. Currently, he is studying at the Hochschule fur Music "Hanns Eisler" Berlin with Prof Antje Weithaas. He has performed recitals and concerts in China, Canada, UK, Belgium, Italy, Japan, USA and Germany, with the Chinese National Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Hungarica, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the Belgium National Symphony Orchestra.

MICHAEL HOUSTOUN, piano, needs little introduction. Born in Timaru, Michael Houstoun showed an unusual and single-minded interest in music from early in his life. He studied the piano in Timaru, Christchurch and Dunedin, and had notable successes in musical examinations and competitions throughout the country, including winning the Christchurch Concerto Competition in 1971.

In 1973 he was awarded 3rd place in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the United States, and two years later gained 4th place in the Leeds International Piano Competition in England. In 1978 he undertook a course of study with Brigitte Wild in London, and in 1982 he won 6th prize at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

Since 1981 Michael Houstoun has been resident in New Zealand, where he has build a career as a soloist. His wide-ranging repertoire includes solo piano works, concertos and chamber music. In May 1999 Michael Houstoun received an honorary doctorate in literature from Massey University.