Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s, and although essentially a regional orchestra it has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed music. Karlo Margetic is the orchestra's first Young-Composer-in-Residence.

History

In 1980, 19 musicians of the collapsed Symphonia of Auckland founded a new cooperatively run orchestra that has now achieved regional icon status as the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Resident in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, the orchestra performs more than 145 concerts a year, accompanies the national opera and ballet and international touring companies. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra has performed with several leading artists including Placido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, Nigel Kennedy, Diana Krall, The Manhattan Transfer, Meat Loaf and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the orchestra’s Patron.

The orchestra has a strong commitment to New Zealand music and is dedicated to contribute to the development of music education. With school concerts aligned with the curriculum and designed for all age brackets, specialised mentoring programmes, composer, conductor and young musician workshops and summer schools, a comprehensive programme works at all educational levels.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is supported by The Auckland Philharmonia Friends, Guild, and Foundation, a Board of Directors, Council of Advisors, Donors and more than 200 sponsors.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra hosts the biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition, rapidly becoming one of the most prestigious music competitions in Australasia.

During his stay in Auckland and performance with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Burt Bacharach, award winning pianist and composer, praised the quality of the orchestra. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10453142 An Evening With Burt Bacharach at Vector Arena] " - "New Zealand Herald", Monday 23 July 2007]

Artistic Leadership

Composers-in-residence

*1990 - Ivan Zagni
*1991 - Eve de Castro-Robinson
*1992 - Andrew Perkins
*1993 - Martin Lodge
*1994 - Helen Bowater
*1995 - Nigel Keay
*1996 - Jaz Coleman
*1997 - Leonie Holmes
*1998 - Jonathan Besser
*1999 - David Hamilton
*2000 - Gillian Whitehead
*2001 - Gillian Whitehead
*2002 - John Rimmer
*2003 - John Rimmer
*2004 - Dyan Lardelli & Anthony Young
*2005 - Ross Harris
*2006 - Ross Harris
*2007 - Gareth Farr & Karlo Margetic
*2008 - Gareth Farr

Artistic Advisors, Musical Directors

Artistic Advisors have included such conductors as Edvard Tchivzel and Vladamir Verbitsky. Miguel Harth-Bedoya was appointed Musical Director in 1998 for 6 years. Roy Goodman begins as Principal Guest Conductor in 2009.

Concertmasters

Brecon Carter, Marcelle Marlette, Justine Cormack, and currently Dimitri Atanassov.

Auckland Town Hall

The orchestra is resident in the Auckland Town Hall, considered to have some of the finest acoustics worldwide. [http://www.the-edge.co.nz/venue/images/great_tech.pdf Auckland Town Hall] (from the 'Great Hall Venue Specifications' document of the 'the-edge.co.nz' website)] The orchestra performs all of its main series concerts in the Great Hall and hosts chamber music concerts in the adjoined Concert Chamber.

References

External links

* [http://www.apo.co.nz/ Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra] (official website)