Sisters play the heart strings

From Boston with love, the Ivanovic family is a shining example of what can be done when everyone sets their mind to a common goal.
The former Atlantic seaboard Americans are settling into life in Tauranga and baker Igor, wife Ludmilla and their four daughters dearly want to live permanently in New Zealand.
It will mean waiting a few months yet to see if they have been accepted but, in the meantime, the family is relishing life in Tauranga and quickly picked up where they left off on their musical education.
And it is really paying dividends, with Sonya, Ines and Mishka proving an attraction at the Bay of Plenty Times/Bay News busking championships at the Mount Maunganui shopping centre.
The fourth daughter Tamara (13) had other commitments on Saturday when judging took place for the 21 entries in the junior section of the contest.
Prize money totalling $3000 was up for grabs from an often tuneful and sometimes energetic cross-section of buskers, with names such as The Heavily Brothers, Celtic Kids and No Rulz.
Buskers ranged from ensembles like the Ivanovic family - who came second in the competition's junior section - to soloists, bagpipers, Irish dancers, guitarists and a swinging sextet.
The Ivanovic girls are learning the Suzuki method of playing the violin and cello through teachers Val Thornburn, Therese Ahlers and Hazel Martin.
Mrs Ivanovic said the method involved the whole family and was a big departure from the old days when children found learning to play music a sometimes lonely and boring experience.
Now the emphasis was on fun and getting together to perform. And when you are an Ivanovic girl with three sisters who are all budding maestros, then busking is the natural next step.
They have already stepped out in public prior to Saturday's contest. For 11-year-old Ines it is a way to help save money for her class trip to the "olympic games" in Hawke's Bay.
"I enjoy busking. Even if people just give us a smile, it is still support," she said.
The girls have attended the Rudolf Steiner School in Welcome Bay since the family arrived nine months ago.
Saturday's contest, organised in conjunction with Mount Mainstreet, was followed on Sunday by at least 31 entries in the senior contest.
Results:
Senior _ First, Shamus; Second, Jessie and Ally Matthews; Third, Joel Shadbolt. Popular vote: Shamus; Voters' Prize, Rangi Piwari.
Junior _ First, Joshua Pidduck; Second, Ivanovic Family; Third, Celtic Kids. Popular vote: Conspiracy Theory.