A world-renowned youth orchestra stops off in Rotorua tomorrow night, thanks to the generosity of Rotary and Opus.
The Heidelberg Youth Orchestra conductor's daughter was previously hosted by Rotarians in New Zealand and she put out a call to see if she could generate some support for them.
As a result, 18 concert dates were chosen and Rotorua hosts the group this weekend with a concert at St Luke's Church on Amohia St.
The orchestra is one of the best young chamber orchestras in Germany and renowned across Europe. The 20 young members play an ambitious repertoire in concerts across Europe and overseas, and in Rotorua they will perform pieces such as Mozart's Divertimento F major KV138, Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, Grieg's Holberg Suite and Guillaume Lekeu's Adagio.
Conductor Thomas Kalb was for many years the general music director of the City of Heidelberg. "This is a wonderful opportunity," said Margriet Theron, a member of the Rotary Club of Rotorua.