Young instrumentalists impress as they vie for scholarship
Avery supportive audience enjoyed a well-varied programme by four young Taranaki instrumental musicians vying to win the quite substantial Muriel May Scholarship to help with their further studies.
First up, pianist David Codd used plenty of dynamic contrast in a dramatic performance of the opening movement of Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, created good balance between the hands for the singing melodies of Chopin’s Nocturne, and achieved the floating style of autumn leaves in Debussy’s Feuilles Mortes. Muriel May Instrumental Concert Theatre Royal December 11
Reviewed by Allan Purdy
Ronan Avery brought a good, clear tone from his violin with some well-managed phrasing in Beethoven’s early Romance in F and then showed lots of dash and expertise in the display style of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3.
Taurangi was the intriguing title of Emma Mcnab’s flute solo by NZ composer Gillian Whitehead. A huge range of playing styles and techniques were covered with great confidence.
Godard’s Valse showed off beautiful, flowing melodies as well as flamboyant passages needing considerable technique and musicianship.
With warm tone and admirable alacrity Daniel Chow showed off his prowess on the euphonium in Senaille’s Introduction and Allegro Spiritoso and then he brought out the strong, singing style for Song to the Moon by Dvorak. Some very mobile tonguing and fingering were called for in Bellstedt’s Variations on Funiculi Funicula.
Pianists Tracy Christiansen, Denise Woods and Raewyn Hunter were excellent in support as piano accompanists.
To allow time for the adjudicator’s deliberation the 2016 winner Dominic Jacquemard wheeled on his marimba (three metres of metal bars keyboard) and thrilled everyone with his amazing spatial judgement and skills with four mallets in two hands all moving independently.
After general very complimentary remarks adjudicator David Bremner announced David Codd as the winner for 2017.