Local pianist to perform at showcase

Sayaka Hughes is one of two young women who are guest artists at the Rotorua Branch of Institute of Registered Music Teachers New Zealand Showcase Concert today. Photo/File

Sayaka Hughes is one of two young women who are guest artists at the Rotorua Branch of
Institute of Registered Music Teachers New Zealand Showcase Concert.

The concert will take place at 2pm today in the Concert Chamber at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.

Ms Hughes and Lucy Li are both 19 and in their second year of a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Piano Performance at Auckland University. Ms Hughes is being tutored by college professor Rae de Lisle and Ms Li's tutor is music lecturer Qu Yong.

Both are previous students of Gloria Taylor, a Rotorua branch founding member, who has since retired to Wellington. Ms Hughes gained both ATCL and LTCL diplomas with Mrs Taylor and Ms Li achieved ATCL before moving to Auckland to start her training with Yong Qu.

As a thank you gesture to Rotorua music teachers, they are performing free of charge.

Ms Hughes has a full academic scholarship for her study in Auckland. Following this degree, Ms Hughes said she wanted to do an honours degree in Auckland before moving overseas to do further music studies. While at university she is teaching the piano and "really enjoying it".

Ms Li has dreams of travelling New Zealand and the world as a concert pianist, something that is achievable by both women, who have won piano competitions at Tauranga and Te Awamutu over several years. Ms Hughes won the Mozart class at Te Awamutu in 2014 and this year was nominated by the adjudicator Ludwig Trevanius as a competitor for PACANZ in 2016.

To see the young women perform plus 35 other musical items of Gerswhin, Chopin, Debussy, Grieg and Glen Millar to name a few, you will need to arrive early to purchase a ticket. There are only door sales, from 1.40pm. Tickets are adults $10, senior citizens $8, students $5, family pass (two adults and up to three children) $15.

- By Annamarie Harris, Publicity Officer for Rotorua/Taupo Branch of Institute of Registered Music Teachers New Zealand.