The Hawke's Bay Orchestra will perform at St Paul's Presbyterian Church on March 14. Photo / Supplied
The Hawke's Bay Orchestra will perform at St Paul's Presbyterian Church on March 14. Photo / Supplied
The Hawke's Bay Orchestra will fill Napier's St Paul's Presbyterian Church with the sound of chamber music during a fundraising concert.
The "Classics for Koha" concert is due to take place at the Tennyson St church from 2.30pm on March 14.
The show, which will feature works from Bach to Bartok, is being held to raise funds for the orchestra to continue providing musical events in Hawke's Bay.
Principal conductor José Aparicio said HBO is of vital importance to the health and wellbeing of the local community.
"Not only does HBO bring focus, joy, expression and a sense of achievement to all of its members, it reminds our society of the great beauty of arts in a deeper way," he said.
Aparicio, the 2018 Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year, said the programme was devised using local musicians, with former NZSO viola player Alice Sip, flautist Dana Parkhill and cellist Cameron Stuart all due to perform.
He will also swap his baton for his flute to perform Haydn's London Trio No.3 and Mozart's Flute Quartet No.1.
"Conducting, playing or singing, I always look forward to getting on the stage. I am lucky it is my passion, my hobby and my job," he said.
Audiences will also be treated to works including a six-piece cello ensemble performing Faure's Elegie, an Ibert wind trio, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto and Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances.
Principal conductor José Aparicio will be swapping his baton for his flute to perform alongside the HBO. Photo / Supplied
Aparicio, who emigrated to New Zealand in 2009 before taking over as principal conductor of HBO in 2017, said Hawke's Bay is lucky to have so many professional musicians living here.
"The most beautiful thing about these players is that they are extremely humble, are prepared to play any position and never demand to be treated differently," he said.
"This is exceptionally good for a group like HBO, because the amateur players in the orchestra get to play alongside phenomenal quality players every week, which enhances their playing and also raises their expectations."
Aparicio added that the concert will showcase a level of talent above most regional orchestras.
