The event is part of their APO Schools Discovery Concert Series

On Tuesday 20th of May the concert band went on a school trip to the Auckland Town Hall to watch the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra perform. The event is part of their APO Schools Discovery Concert Series. 

Many different schools from all over Auckland attended, this was cool because it shows that many students all show the same passion for music as me. Many of the instruments I knew of but some of them were completely new to me, like the bassoon, the lowest in the woodwind family. I also found out new things about other instruments, I did not know that the trombone could sound like a motorcycle! 

All the songs that were played at the concert made you feel different emotions for each one and the comedy from the host David helped to keep us, the audience, entertained (we even made our own song with the other schools). 

The pieces performed by the APO were Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto, selections of Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1, a new music work by APO’s Young Composer-in-Residence Grace Wellik and Compose Yourself! by James Stephenson.  

Halfway through the performance a Year 10 student from Pinehurst College named David Zhu did a solo and he was amazing! He made you feel like you could be in that same position if you put in the hard mahi. Overall the experience was very entertaining and I hope to be a part of more opportunities involved with the concert band. 

by Ryan Thomas 9TL