As a 40-voice choir complete with orchestra, Bach Musica NZ entertain their audiences with a wide variety of music from classical to jazz. This time they will sing Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff's favourite piece, All-Night Vigil. Since its premier in 1915, it has been described as the composer's finest achievement. The choir will be joined by Russian tenor Dmitry Rusakov and NZ alto Sarah Court. Conducted by Rita Paczian.
Tomorrow, 5pm, St. Matthews-in-the-City, 187 Federal Street.
Move ahead
Your kid - or you - still wondering what to do with life? Take a stroll through the Auckland Careers Expo to meet representatives from industry, tertiary providers, training institutes, employers, government departments and corporates. There's also a world of work exhibit, which will help match jobs to skill-sets and direct attendees to experts to discuss their next move.
Today, 10am-3pm. ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane. See careersexpo.org.nz for more.
Open orchestra
An afternoon of music and Harold the Giraffe - what could be more fun for the littlies? Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra will hold an open orchestra afternoon today, with a chance for kids to get up close and personal with the instruments and musicians. There will be a music zoo and other music-related activities, with the Life Education Trust's ubiquitous mascot Harold the Giraffe joining the orchestra in songs including Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee and Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. The Life Education Trust's mobile classrooms will be parked in Aotea Square.
Today, 2pm-4pm, Auckland Town Hall. For more information see apo.co.nz
Dog time
Ever thought your pooch deserved a wider audience? Now is the time for that doggie to shine. POP Dogs is a fun day out for Aucklanders and their dogs, which includes a curated outdoor photo shoot for your budding celebrity pet. A dog pavilion will be set up in Victoria Park for dogs to put their best paw forward for a portrait taken by a professional photographer. The snaps will then feature on the POP website and POP Dogs' social media channels for people to share.
Today, 9am - 1pm, Victoria Park, 203 - 271 Victoria Street.
Circus challenge
Juggling, poi, hula hoop, acrobatics - running away with the circus might be a teenage dream, but to save on transport costs it might just be better to send them down to Victoria Park today for the Youth Circus Challenge. Run as part of Circability's youth week programme, the free circus workshop will feature expert trainers from around the country and demonstrations from unicycle world champions Christian Huriwai and Sam LaHood.
Today, 1pm-5pm, Victoria Park, Auckland.
PLAN AHEAD
Next week: Exhibition
Pushed from their homelands, hundreds of refugees are welcomed to make New Zealand home each year. Photographer Nando Azevedo has documented some of the people who come here as refugees and become Kiwis. "Their past may be in another country, but their present and future is here," he says. "People who have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity, emerging with determination." The exhibition is supported by the Auckland Refugee Community Coalition (ARCC), and Amnesty International, and is part of the Auckland Festival of Photography.
May 31-June 12, Mon-Wed: 9am-5pm.
Thu-Sat: 9am-9pm. Sun: 9am-7pm.
Ponsonby Central, 126 Ponsonby Rd.
Hospice help
One of Hibiscus Hospice's major fundraisers is its Art Exhibition and Sale, the largest of its type in the Rodney District. This year there will be 400 works for sale and more than 90 artists exhibiting paintings, prints, photography, glassware and jewellery. The hospice provides palliative care to those with terminal illnesses in the community and in-house, with an aim to enhance the quality of life remaining.
June 3-6, 9am- 4pm, Estuary Arts Centre, 214B Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa. Tickets to a preview evening on Thursday are $25, online at
hibiscushospice.org.nz or by phoning (09) 421 9180. Entry on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is by gold coin donation.
Warbirds open day
June 6, 1944, "D Day" marked the commencement of the Allies' re-entry to Europe as the major part of Operation Overlord to regain a foothold in Western Europe. To mark the 72nd anniversary, the New Zealand Warbirds Association is holding a Warbirds Open Day at their Ardmore Airport base.
The RNZAF returns to the event, marking the first public display in the Auckland region of the T-6C Texan II - the new turboprop-powered trainer recently commissioned by the Air Force.
The Texan will be accompanied by the Beech King Air B200 - a high-performance communications/ transport aircraft and multi-engine trainer.
Food and refreshments will be available.
Sunday, June 5. First flying display scheduled for 10.30am. Gates open at 9am. Adults $20, children under 14 free.
Next month: Country calendar
New Zealand's most-loved television series is celebrating 50 years on the air, with an exhibition to take visitors for a trip down memory lane. Country Calendar: 50 Golden Years looks at the unique mix of stories that have made the show a consistently high-rating TV production, even in the days of glossier reality television. The exhibition includes artefacts, audio and video.
June 11-September 28, Waikato Museum Hamilton.
