Free family concert

Mr Wizowski will get into some tangles as he tries to conduct the orchestra. Photo/supplied

The Bay of Plenty Symphonia will have a wonderfully wacky guest conductor when it presents a free family concert in the city.

"Full of trips, turns, thrills and spills, the concert is designed particularly to entertain and educate young children, but will appeal to all ages - from toddlers to great grandparents," says BOP Symphonia past president Maggie Gething.

While longsuffering musicians do their best to perform marvellous music from famous composers, Mr Wizowski will attempt to control them while also performing circus antics.

"The audience will be in stitches. The comedy angle of this family concert will complement the experience of hearing a live orchestra perform famous classics.

"You will hear Rossini's William Tell Overture, exciting symphonic extracts from Beethoven and Dvorak, Ravel's well known Bolero and other lively pieces, with some quieter interludes conducted properly by the symphonia's music director, Justus Rozemond."

Along with some surprises and special effects, there will be lots of audience participation to wow the kids. Young musicians will play alongside the adults in the orchestra, hopefully as inspiration for others to learn an instrument.

The concert is only an hour long.

"By making this a free event in an informal setting, we hope to encourage parents who might find it difficult, financially or logistically, to take their kids to an orchestral concert," said Maggie.

All are invited, donations will be welcome to help cover costs.

the fine print
What: Free Family Classical Concert
Where: Otumoetai College
When: Sunday, September 4, 2.30pm.