Young music stars from Rotorua and Taupo will be on show next weekend.
The Rotorua branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers is holding its annual Showcase Concert on Sunday, December 6, at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.
There will be more than 30 items, with students aged from 6 to 18 performing works from the baroque, classical, romantic and modern eras, including jazz.
It will feature two girls from Taupo, Jessica Su and Hannah Wilks, who won the Nell Trail Scholarships in June.
Hannah is 15 and was first in the Intermediate Scholarship for Grades Four and Five. In September Hannah gained High Class Honours (a mark higher than 95 per cent) for Grade Six piano. She is also an avid singer and performs with three Taupo choirs.
Also performing will be Jessica Su, who won the Junior Scholarship for Grades One to Three. The 8-year-old has gained Initial with Distinction and Grade One with Merit. Annamarie Harris, the publicity officer for the Rotorua branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers, said the concert would showcase vocal and piano items by soloists and small groups of students who have gained distinction or merit in exams and won cups at competitions in Tauranga and Te Awamutu.
Some interesting piano duets will be La Vie en Rose made famous by French singer Edith Piaf and Spanish Dance by Moszkowski. Another feature item will be Jessica Colbert, aged 18, on double bass and trumpet players Matthew Simpson and Bradley Crowe accompanied by Fergus Byett on piano.
As a special bonus there will be two guest artists, Sayaka Hughes and Lucy Li.
"These two young women are pianists who are going places, both being in their second year of a piano performance bachelor degree at Auckland University," Mrs Harris said.
Next Sunday's concert is being held from 2pm to 4pm. It is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for children. A family ticket of two adults and up to three children is $15.