Young musicians shine at Tiromoana concert series

concert performers: Aucklander Tony Yan Tong Chen, far right, a student at New York's Eastman School of Music, performed at Tiromoana in July. He is pictured with William Berry, Otis-Prescott Mason and Edith Fischer at a master class programme in Switzerland last week. Picture supplied

A monthly series of concerts by musicians and student pianists has provided a welcome respite from winter chills at Professor Jack Richards' Okitu residence, Tiromoana.

In conjunction with Musica Viva, the local chapter of Chamber Music New Zealand, all the recitals have attracted an enthusiastic audience of music lovers.

The series started in July with a concert by Vietnamese bassoonist Long Nguyen and Christchurch pianist Tony Chen Lin, a PhD student at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and was followed by a recital by Aucklander Tony Yan Tong Chen, a student at the Eastman School of Music in New York.

On Sunday an audience of around 60 enjoyed a recital by 19-year-old Victoria University Student Ben Kennedy, whose programme included works by Beethoven, Scriabin and Chopin.

“Performance before a live audience is an important part of the musical development of young musicians,” Professor Richards said.

“It provides a wonderful opportunity for people to hear the amazing talents of today's rising musical stars.”

Recitals coming up include performances by two award-winning young pianists — William Berry and Otis Prescott-Mason — both of whom have recently participated in master classes with renowned Chilean pianist Edith Fischer in Blonay, Switzerland, with Professor Richards' support.

In November opera singer Jasmine Jenson, a voice major at the New Zealand School of Music, will perform at Tiromoana.