Family friendly organ fest

A smorgasbord of organ music is being served up at the Auckland Organ Festival over Queens Birthday Weekend.
There will be a performance on New Zealand's oldest pipe organ as well as a chance for families to learn all about the musical instrument and have a go themselves.
The opening concert of The King's Birthday 2011 Auckland Organ Festival, features Auckland City organist Dr John Wells on the oldest pipe organ in New Zealand - built in 1779 by John Avery.
The programme will include:
Bach's Fourth English Suite, John Bull's In Nomine, Thomas Arne's Sixth Sonata, John Wells' Partita on "Wolvercote", commissioned for organ manuals as well as also works by Stanley, Farnaby, Woltz and Wesley.
This little pipe organ has only eight ranks of pipes and is unique in New Zealand. It is believed to have been a gift from Queen Victoria to the former St Paul's Church in Emily Place. It was completely overhauled to historic specification in 2005.
Small Is Beautiful - John Wells on Avery is on Friday, June 3, at 7.30pm in the Ponsonby Baptist Church, cnr Jervois Rd and Seymour St. Adults $20, senior/students $15. Door sales only.
The Auckland Organ Festival also celebrates the centenary of pipe organ music in the Auckland Town Hall with a virtuoso concert on the magnificent new organ by one of the world's great young organists, Sarah Kim, of Korean heritage and based in Paris.
Sarah Kim at the Auckland Town Hall, is at 6.30pm on Saturday, June 4. Bookings: www.buytickets.co.nz or ph 357 3355.
Also the festival programme features a Family Organ Discovery Day. This is a rare, free opportunity for young people and their families to find out anything and everything about the "King of Instruments" through fun, hands-on activities and displays.
At 2pm there will be a Carnival of the Organ Pipes a narrated stage show for children illustrated with music from the new Town Hall Organ. Saturday, June 4, from 10am-5pm.
Further festival info and full programme: www.organz.org.nz/kingsbirthday