Musical talent abounds in Rotorua and Taupo as shown by the students of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers New Zealand.
From the first performer, 6-year-old Alice Li, who performed a solo and duet, through all the grades to the two guest artists, Sayaka Hughes and Lucy Li, the capacity audience was treated to a plethora of musical talent.
There were the jazz and blues with their witty rhythms and nostalgic melodies as performed by Gyle and Lyge Bascon and Bradley and Marcus Crowe. The audience was enthralled by the lilting waltzes, tender Nocturne and haunting Etude by Chopin as performed by Fergus Byett, Hannah Wilks, Angelynn Jayasuria, Shamus Baker and Dong Guen Lee. These young performers, all under 17, played with aplomb and charisma, and most of them performed from memory.
The vocalists: Marcus Crowe, Nicola Gebauer, Tamara Peez and Deborah Walker all lit up the stage with their delightful voices, characterisations and facial expressions.
We were also treated to the rousing Tchaikovsky Chanson Napolitaine performed with dexterity on trumpet by Bradley Crowe and accompanied on piano by Fergus Byett. And the clever fingers of Jessica Colbert as she played her double bass with the Spanish flavour of Lancen's Dances.
