UC music students Daniel Cooper and Gabriel Baird lead the mini传媒 musicians of the Secret Sinfonia.
The group of 35, who will perform this Monday evening 10 May at Knox Church, includes university music students, other university students and high school students who play to a high standard, and professional musicians from UC鈥檚 highly regarded School of Music and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to get together to explore new music with our mentors and to give something back to the community,鈥 Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at UC and Secret Sinfonia co-founder (with bassoonist Gabriel Baird), Daniel Cooper says.
The non-profit orchestra鈥檚 upcoming concert programme showcases works that are unusual but accessible for both the audience and the performers.听
鈥淲e鈥檒l perform the New Zealand premiere of Kurt Atterburg鈥檚 fourth Symphony. Atterberg is Swedish composer whose music is programmatic and very approachable for all listeners. We will also perform听Suite Alg茅rienne听by French composer Saint-S毛ans. The suite paints the composers impressions of Algeria during his time there - the sounds and sights, especially the natural environment he encountered.鈥
Cooper鈥檚 research interest is British symphonic music at the turn of the 20th听century, with a special focus on the works of Sir Arnold Bax. Having graduated last year with a first class honours degree in conducting from the Elder Conservatorium of Music (University of Adelaide), Daniel is just starting on his Doctorate of Musical Arts, and is confident it will enable him to achieve his career goals.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a highly regarded qualification internationally, which will give me the tools to work critically as a conductor and researcher of all genres of western music, anywhere in the world.鈥
Cooper has studied at music schools and in masterclasses overseas and says UC offers unique and invaluable opportunities. 鈥淭he programme is personalised to develop your interests and passions, and the staff are internationally recognised performers, composers and pedagogues. Every minute I spend with (violinist and composer)听Professor Mark Menzies, I learn so much, and with听Reuben de Lautour听(composer) and听Justin DeHart听(percussionist) they make a powerhouse team that you can鈥檛 help but be inspired by and swept along with! Amazing mentors, and a cutting edge environment in which to learn and grow.鈥
Secret Sinfonia performs at Knox Church (28 Bealey Avenue) Monday 10 May at 7:30 pm. Entry is by koha at the door. Proceeds go towards the听New Zealand Youth Mental Health Foundation.
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