Rotorua comes alive with the sound of music

Rhapsody Rotorua returns next month. Photo/File

For the 18th consecutive year, Rotorua will be host to some of New Zealand and Australia's most talented music students as they congregate for Rhapsody Rotorua, a week-long festival celebrating music and emerging talent.

Rhapsody Rotorua is New Zealand and Australia's premier youth music festival, attracting more than 800 students from more than 20 New Zealand and Australian schools.

The brainchild of WorldStrides, a global leader in educational travel, the week-long festival offerred a unique experience for overseas students to experience Maori culture and Rotorua's attractions while having fun and learning together.

It's not just fun and games for these talented pupils as they undertake masterclasses and workshops, and have their performances adjudicated by world renowned musicians.

The participating schools also perform two free public concerts for the local community.

Destination Rotorua International trade manager Patrick Dault said Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival was a great event for our city.

"It showcases the sublime educational potential of our destination. Young performers from Australia and New Zealand get to enjoy Rotorua's rich cultural heritage and our unique geothermal environment.

"They gain valuable experience, performing to packed public venues. Students love coming to Rotorua and making the most of our attractions and activities," he said.

WorldStrides was founded in 1967 by a school teacher and has been creating unforgettable educational travel experiences for more than 50 years. To date they have taken more than 7 million students around the globe on educational adventures.

WorldStrides Performing Arts programs Karene Philips said uniting students from different countries and cultures to share their passion for music created a truly remarkable event.

"Students are immersed in a unique learning experience, with adjudication from top musicians aiding them to develop their skills.

"Performing onstage in front of the Rotorua community delivers tremendous benefits for the students, it's an immensely rewarding experience for everyone involved in the festival."

Rhapsody Rotorua's two public concerts offer a unique opportunity for the community to experience an incredibly high quality of music from remarkably young talented musicians for free.

Showcasing a variety of styles and songs, there is a performance to suit all musical tastes.

Free concert details :
Thursday July 5 7pm: School Performances from local and international ensembles. Harvest Centre
Friday July 6 7pm: Gala Performances from Honours, Festival Bands, Orchestras and Choirs plus Rodger Fox Quartet with Jazz singer Erna Ferry. Harvest Centre

Tickets are free and are available from Ticketmaster.co.nz or at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

The festival runs from July 2 to July 8 2018.