The Orchestra comes together in Christchurch during the April school holidays. There will be 104 musicians and only five of them are trombone players. Selection is highly competitive with students from all over New Zealand auditioning – there are students from 21 towns and cities.
Students were required to record themselves playing several specified extracts from orchestral pieces and then submit their videos. The best of these students were selected. This year the Orchestra will be working with one of Australia’s leading conductors, Ben Northey, who is also the Christchurch Symphony’s Chief Conductor. They have an intensive week of rehearsals ahead of performing a programme that includes Shostakovich’s Festival Overture, Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Saint-Saens Organ Symphony.
