The Symphony Orchestra is composed of approximately 85 auditioned instrumentalists in Years 5 – 8
Orchestra Schedule
Saturday Rehearsals
Attendance is compulsory
Dates: Saturday, 30 August; 6, 13 September; 18 October and 1 November
Start: 3.45pm at Avonhead School Hall, 55 Avonhead Rd
Finish: 5.45pm
Please note: All rehearsals start and finish at the stated time – please arrange your transport around this so that you are not late arriving OR being collected!
Holiday Course
Attendance is compulsory
Dates: Monday – Wednesday 22 – 24 September
Venue: Avonhead School Hall
Time: 9.00 – 2.30pm each day (report at 8.45am)
Each day, the Orchestra will rehearse the music that it is preparing for the Festival. Players will also spend some time learning parts in sectional rehearsals.
An enormous amount of polishing and fine-tuning goes into every piece during these 3 days – so players need to be prepared for some hard work, and will need to do some rehearsal at home in the evenings in preparation for the next day.
What to wear: Tidy casual
What to bring: Your instrument and music, a snack to eat at the morning break, your lunch, a pencil, a bottle of water.
What NOT to bring: Please do not bring gum and/or sweets.
Breaks: There is a Morning Tea break and a Lunch break, both of 30 minutes. You are required to remain in the school for these – you are not allowed to leave the premises to buy your food, so make sure that you remember to bring your snack and lunch with you.
Please note: We require the assistance of teachers or of parents of children attending the Holiday Course to help supervise the children during their two 30-minute breaks on each day of the course. Click here for more details
Dress Rehearsal
Attendance is compulsory
Date: Monday 3 November
Venue: Christchurch Town Hall
Time: 1.30pm to 3pm
Performance Days and Evenings
Attendance is compulsory for all four days and evenings
Dates: Tuesday – Friday, 4 – 7 November
Reporting times: Day: 8.30am (finish by 10.30am);
Evening: by 8pm, ready to start
Collection time (evening): 9.15pm
Conductor
The conductor of the Symphony Orchestra is Tony Ryan.
Tony Ryan is well-known to Christchurch audiences as a conductor, composer, educator, and reviewer. As a conductor he learnt his craft as repetiteur, chorus master and conductor working for many organisations including Canterbury Opera where he was assistant to international guest conductors including Vanco Cavdarski, John Matheson, Martin Turnovsky and many others. Since then he has worked extensively as a conductor and composer for Court Theatre, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and others. Find out more here.
Manager
The Manager of the Symphony Orchestra is Joanne Vergeer.
If you have a child in the Orchestra, any questions or concerns that cannot be answered by information on this site can be answered by Joanne: email: vergeer@xtra.co.nz; ph: 342–5881
The Symphony Orchestra is supported by…
