From Bach to Brahms all week

FIRST STRINGS: Violinist Grace McKenzie (pictured), a first-year performance major at Auckland University, and University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra principal cellist Mariko Windecker were the first musicians to take the stage for the annual Gisborne International Music Competition when it started yesterday. McKenzie’s programme included Bach’s Chaconne from Partita, and Prokofiev’s Andantino from Concerto No. 1 in D major, while Windecker’s included Piazolla’s Le Grand Tango and Kodaly’s Cello Sonata Op. 4. She was backed by pianist Rachel Song. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Strings opened the week-long Gisborne International Music Competition (GIMC) at the War Memorial Theatre yesterday.

Among the 25 New Zealanders and 19 international musicians who arrived in Gisborne last week for this year’s competition was cellist Mariko Windecker, who was first up for the first round of the 2017 event.

The New Zealand-born German/Japanese musician took up the cello as a four-year-old. A student at Auckland University’s School of Music, Windecker is principal cellist of the university’s symphony orchestra and the Auckland Youth Orchestra.

GIMC competitors are asked to submit a 45-55 minute programme that is both balanced and contrasting. Each musician’s programme is made of up of three works, one of which must be performed unaccompanied. The works must be from two musical periods.

Christchurch-based flute player Matthew Lee performed yesterday and flute player Lauren Grout, also formerly of Gisborne, performs tonight.

The competition’s jurors are New Zealand Symphony Orchestra principal oboist Robert Orr and Australian National Academy of Music head of violin Robin Wilson.

The GIMC’s first rounds continue today and tomorrow, while the semi-finals will be held on Friday. Admission is free.

Thursday is given over to community engagement activities.

Trumpeter Patrick Macaskill-Webb, and trombonists Toby Pringle, Dale Vail and Andrew Yorkstone, will showcase the sound of brass in a lunchtime concert at St Andrew’s Church at 12.30pm. Bring your lunch. Admission free but koha will go to the brass quartet’s performers.

On Saturday, a Concert Under the Leaves performance will be held at Marina park at 12.30pm.