Youth talent to take centre stage

Atutahi Potaka-Dewes, left, and Zoe Jans tune up for Rhapsody Rotorua. Photo / File

Rotorua is gearing up to showcase some of the finest Australasian musical talent.

The Rhapsody Rotorua gala is on tonight at the Convention Centre and features special guests, the Rodger Fox Quartet accompanied by jazz singer Erna Ferry.

There will also be jazz bands, honour and festival bands, choirs and orchestras from 23 Australian and New Zealand intermediate and secondary schools.

Rotorua's own Western Heights High School, John Paul College, Rotorua Intermediate School and Rotorua Youth String Orchestra will be among the talented performers on the night.

Rhapsody Rotorua is an annual schools and youth music festival which started in 2001 to cater for overseas schools wanting a tour experience in New Zealand.

Each year the event involves hundreds of students from New Zealand and Australia, and involves workshops, concerts, professional adjudication, local school performances and master classes.

Rhapsody Rotorua artistic director Grant Burns said the festival had become a distinctive annual music event.

"The gala tonight is unique because it combines all the schools and gives students the chance to perform alongside each other," Mr Burns said.

Group Events New Zealand representative Don Gunn said there was something for everybody.

"It's a family-friendly event and both kids and parents can enjoy the musical talent on offer," Mr Gunn said, adding tonight's gala was a culmination of the week's events.

"Audiences can expect a pretty full-on concert that displays a wide range of musical disciplines. It will be a really good evening."

Rhapsody Rotorua is supported by the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and managed by Group Events Pty Ltd.

Details
What: Rhapsody Rotorua.
Where: Rotorua Convention Centre.
When: Tonight, from 7pm.
Cost: Free.