NEWSLETTER

OUR SECOND JULY CONCERT will be memorable. One of 'our own' - Blythe Press - is about to continue his studies in Austria, with world-renowned violin teacher Professor Yair Kless, who has invited him to join his class at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz. This is a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and, as part of the Waikanae Music Society's commitment to young musicians, this concert is to help him with the costs of overseas study.

SUNDAY 30 JULY AT 2.30PM WAIKANAE MEMORIAL HALL

****SPECIAL BENEFIT CONCERT****

BLYTHE PRESS, EMMA SAYERS & VESA-MATTI LEPPÄNEN


SCHUMANN

Sonata in A minor for violin and piano.


ALBENIZ

Evocacion and El Puerto from Iberia, for solo piano


Helen BOWATER

Zingaro for solo violin (this is a short but evocative work)


MOZART

Sonata in G, K 379 for violin and piano.


BACH

Sonata No. 2 in A minor for solo violin

Special Ticket prices:   Adults $15     "Under 20s" $10
Tickets available from the usual sales outlets. Please note, Season tickets and discount vouchers will NOT be valid for this SPECIAL BENEFIT CONCERT.

BLYTHE PRESS, violin, is well known to local audiences. A number of members will remember him performing at Student Musician concerts as a youngster. Born in December 1988, Blythe gained his LTCL at the age of 14 (with 95%) and is currently in his second year at Victoria University studying violin with NZSO concertmaster Vesa-Matti Lepp�nen. Blythe recently placed second in the 2005/6 National Concerto Competition. Last year, he became the youngest ever winner of the NZ School of Music Concerto Competition (previously the Victoria University competition). He has performed solos with several Wellington orchestras and given many solo and chamber music recitals.

He was leader of the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta (the 'junior WYO') at the age of 12, has been Concertmaster of the Auckland NZ Secondary Schools Orchestra, a member of the National Youth Orchestra from age 13, and has played casually in the NZSO. He was in the national finals of the Schools Chamber Music Contest in three groups, one of which came runner-up in 2003.

EMMA SAYERS, piano, is active as a solo pianist, accompanist, chamber musician and teacher. Following formative studies with Judith Clark she received a TVNZ Young Achiever's Award in 1993 and spent five years at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. Emma returned to NZ in 1998 and is now lecturing at Massey University, Wellington. She is a member of contemporary music ensemble STROMA and also performs chamber music with members of the NZSO and pianist Richard Mapp.

VESA-MATTI LEPPÄNEN, violin, is from Finland where he studied at the Turku Conservatory and the Sibelius Academy. In 1989 his Concordo String Quartet won a special prize at the Tulindberg International String Quartet Competition. Since then he has performed with various chamber groups and as soloist with many orchestras. From 1991 to 2000 he was concertmaster with the Turku Philharmonic. In July 2000 he was appointed Assistant Concertmaster of the NZSO, becoming Concertmaster in 2003. He also performs with the highly acclaimed contemporary music group Stroma.