Rising stars ready to sparkle in concert

Pianist Matthew Yu and violinist Fumiko Koshikawa will perform with the Wanganui Orchestra. Photo/Supplied

Two rising stars will perform at the Wanganui Orchestra's winter concert this month.

Pianist Matthew Hu and violinist Fumiko Koshikawa will join the orchestra for their concert at the Prince Edward Auditorium on August 17.

Mr Hu is a former Wanganui resident now living in Auckland. He will be the feature soloist for the orchestra's performance of Piano Concerto No 23, one of Mozart's most engaging works.

Mr Hu and his family emigrated from Hong Kong to New Zealand in 1996. He began learning the piano and violin at age 6, passing his piano LTCL with distinction and his violin performer's certificate. He has played with the Wanganui Orchestra previously, as well as with the Wanganui Lyric Singers and the Wanganui Chamber Orchestra.

Miss Koshikawa, from Japan, is studying at Wanganui Collegiate. She will return to Japan at the end of this year to begin studying medicine.

She started playing the violin when she was four.

Miss Koshikawa is working towards her LTCL this year.

She will play Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending with the orchestra.

Also on the programme are Alexander Borodin's In The Steppes Of Central Asia and Amilcare Ponichelli's Dance Of The Hours.

This concert is being held in association with Wanganui Collegiate's Foundation Music School.

Tickets are available from the Royal Wanganui Opera House or at the door for $10.