Showcase of young talent in Rotorua concert

Annamarie Harris. Photo / Stephen Parker

A mix of seasoned performers and young new talent will be showcased in Rotorua at a decade's-old concert.

The Rotorua branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers New Zealand is holding the second of their biannual Cushion Concerts tomorrow night.

The concert was established for all students, beginner to diploma, to perform in front of an encouraging audience.

The showcase will be held from 6.30pm to 8pm at the St Chad's Communication Centre and will have performances from musicians aged 6 to 18.

The door charge is $5 per family and the concert is open to the public.

Rotorua Branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers publicity officer Annamarie Harris said the concert served as a "stepping stone to Eisteddfod, scholarships, and other competitions and exams".

Ms Harris said the audience would be "quite excited" to see what young Rotorua musicians had to offer. "The little ones especially like getting all dressed up and love playing in front of an audience. It's also lovely for the parents of the young ones to hear the more advanced performers.

"It is a special concert for the young ones and since we changed the time to a Friday night, it has been quite popular and we are expecting a full house."

Ms Harris said the concert name served two purposes. "It is a preliminary concert for musicians who have never performed in front of an audience before but we also encourage the young ones to bring cushions so they can sit at the front of the hall, leaving the seats for the adults."

The concert will showcase a variety of items by pianists, singers, guitarists and other instrumentalists. Ms Harris will MC the night and has nine of her students performing. "We have quite a few performances this time around with about 30 different items. The audience will experience a wide variety of music throughout the night."