WHY

The Hawke’s Bay Orchestra (HBO) plays a larger role in promoting the arts and arts education. HBO is committed to

• developing educational and performance experiences for students living in Hawke’s Bay

• supporting and launching our region’s emerging musicians onto national opportunities and regional leadership, and

• professional development for our community based musicians and teachers. Furthering this aim is best achieved through instruction, mentoring, coaching, and performance opportunities with the highest calibre teachers, musicians, and conductors.

With this as our aim, HBO is offering an opportunity for students to continue their music education in an advanced orchestral setting, working directly with professional musicians and performing for the public.  We offer a platform for emerging nationally recognized music professionals to broaden and sharpen their skills as soloists, composers, conductors, teachers, and leaders.

WHAT

For thirty years the Hawke's Bay Orchestra has been a key feature of the regional performing arts landscape.  Our Emerging Young Artist Programme or-ches-trate!! is a natural progression of the vision we share in educating and enriching the lives of Hawke's Bay youth.

The emphasis of or-ches-trate!! is to train the young musician to become an experienced ensemble musician - teaching the musician to lead, to listen, and to move from individual players to one cohesive unit.

The programme incorporates challenging repertoire under the guidance of professional musicians, during which each student receives focused attention in small-group work such as orchestral 'sectionals', ensemble experiences, and performances.

In 2007 the Hawke's Bay Orchestra again brought  some of NZs leading professional musicians and educators to Hawke's Bay who offer the highest standard of musical training and inspiration.

As well as some Bach and Rossini we were exploring different areas of music, including tangos,fandangos and klezmer music. The idea behind this was to give students a chance to learn about improvisation in less formal styles of music.

In June/July 2007 students from the NZSM Academy of Music joined HBO orchestrate students in an exciting finale weekend, exploring new sounds on classical instruments; Wind players likewise enjoyed workshops, led by Simon Brew-saxophone and one of New Zealands leading Klezmer exponents, clarinetist-Tui Clark; and a large enthusiastic group of local percussionists were also inspired by NZs internationally acclaimed high energy group STRIKE

Musical selections studied are performed in advertised concerts and also presented on stage at the HBO's annual Classics at Sunset concert in November as part of the evenings programme. In 2007 two of our regular and enthusiastic participants, Caughlin Butler (-year 13 student at Havelock High School,) and Alice McIvor (- year 11 at Karamu High School-)performed as guest soloists on stage- the Bach Double Violin Concerto.

In January 2008 -members of the Orchestrate programme again under the leadership of Greg Squire, performed at the HB Opera House  as part of the "Summer in the Park" Series.

JUNE was a busy month with chamber music coaching and performances for the competitions, a recital by Katrin Eickhorst Squire-.recorder / Douglas Mews- harpsicord/piano.

Napier's Municipal Theatre was pulsing! -Local students were joined by the NZSM Academy (Wgtn) - with workshops by  guest tutors Greg Squire, Tui Clarke-clarinet, Peter Garrity- viola, STRIKE (Wgtn)- percussion , Sasha Gurchenko NZSO-Double Bass and Katrin Eickhorst Squire-.recorder.- finishing with a highly entertaining family concert.

December 2008 Orchestrate performed  at the "River Room" for friends and families, and at the Classics at Sunset Concert, Black Barn.

2009 seems likely to be another busy year. In May, local flute students had the privilege of  working and performing with internationally recognized Flautist Alexa Still.