A farewell, and a welcome....

...This was a most engaging performance, full of vitality, expressive intensity and a great commitment to the music, ensuring that the evening was a real joy for the audience throughout....
(Stephen Fisher, Manawatu Standard)
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2012-03-29 20:59

Recently the Aroha String Quartet marked the end of an era with the departure of Beiyi Xue, who has been the quartet's second violin since its inception in 2004. The rest of the quartet thank her for her amazing contribution in both a musical and a personal sense and wish her all the very best for her future chamber music-making activities.

We are however, very pleased to announce that Blythe Press has agreed to take over the second violin position. Blythe studied with renowned teacher Prof. Yair Kless for five years at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz, Austria, where he gained his Masters degree with distinction in June, 2011. He is an experienced chamber musician, having toured New Zealand as violinist of the Cook Strait Trio in 2009 and 2010, and it is in playing chamber music that his greatest passion resides. Welcome Blythe!

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Next concerts

Sunday, September 21 2025, 2:30pm - 4:30pm, Waikanae Memorial Hall

For this programme we are joined by four wonderful guest artists - Nick Walshe (clarinet), Justin Sun (bassoon), Alexander Hambleton (horn) and Oleksandr Gunchenko (double bass) - to present a programme enlivened by the varied timbres of wind instruments. Beginning with the Mozart String Quartet in B-flat K589 we move on to 'Serenata in vano' for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Cello & Double Bass by Danish composer Carl Nielsen. This characterful work depicts a short and unsuccessful attempt at seduction. We finish with Schubert's mighty and virtuosic Octet, a work filled with jaunty dances, singable melodies and heart-rending moments. Tickets $40 Members, $50 Non Members, $10 Students.