Two young chamber music ensembles will embark on their first national tours in May performing concerts featuring New Zealand music played by New Zealand musicians. Wellington based contemporary ensemble stroma(in photo right) will tour seven centres from May 15th to May 31st as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's Celebrity Season and the New Zealand Trio will perform seven concerts from May 16th to May 23rd through CMNZ's Associate Societies network.
Two young chamber music ensembles will embark on their first national tours in May performing concerts featuring New Zealand music played by New Zealand musicians. Wellington based contemporary ensemble stroma(in photo right) will tour seven centres from May 15th to May 31st as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's Celebrity Season and the New Zealand Trio will perform seven concerts from May 16th to May 23rd through CMNZ's Associate Societies network.

Both ensembles include some of the country's top classical musicians. The members of stroma are primarily principal players with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, including Associate Conductor Hamish McKeich and Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppanen.

The members of the New Zealand Trio - Justine Cormack (violin), Sarah Watkins (piano) and Ashley Brown (cello) - were recently appointed artists in residence at the University of Auckland. Justine was formerly the Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia.

"Both of these ensembles are young and vibrant and we are pleased to be able to provide these talented musicians with performance opportunities around the country," says CMNZ General Manager Brian Budd. "It is particularly gratifying to see them embrace and champion New Zealand music."

stroma's programme includes the premiere of a new work commissioned by CMNZ from Wellington composer Ross Harris called At the Edge of Silence. The New Zealand Trio will perform September's Scars by young Auckland composer Jenny Thomas.

September's Scars was written in 2002 when Jenny was 16 and won the original composition section of the Chamber Music Contest that year. The work commemorates the victims of September 11th and was performed in Auckland last year by the New York based Eroica Trio.

"For me, Jenny's work is a reflection of how the world came together in response to a terrible tragedy," says pianist Sarah Watkins. "There is a simplicity in the writing which adds to the poignancy of the work."

Jenny is currently studying music at the University of Auckland.

September's Scars will be performed alongside piano trios by Beethoven, Rakhmaninov and Brahms in a programme of the first trios ever written by these composers.

The New Zealand Trio will perform in Waikanae, Wanganui, Hamilton, Whangarei, Kerikeri, Waimakariri and Akaroa. These concerts are presented by music societies in these centres in association with CMNZ.

stroma will perform in Christchurch, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth and Auckland in May. The tour is part of CMNZ's prestigious Celebrity Season, placing them alongside the world's best.

"Too often in New Zealand we fail to celebrate our musicians until someone from overseas does it first," says Mr Budd. "Since its formation, stroma's reputation for stimulating performances has grown and grown and we are proud to present this talented ensemble within the Celebrity Season."

For more information phone 0800 CONCERT (266 2378) or visit www.chambermusic.co.nz. Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.