New Zealand Secondary School’s Symphony Orchestra

Congratulations to Ava Dowsett-Farmer and Fleur Locke-Brook, who have been selected to attend the New Zealand Secondary School’s Symphony Orchestra course, which is running from the 15th – 20th April at St Margaret’s College in Christchurch. Students will spend the week learning from professional musicians and rehearsing, both in their sections and as a larger orchestra, in preparation for a Gala Concert on the final day.

Entry to the course is by audition, which took place last spring and consisted of candidates learning set pieces and sending in videos of themselves playing. It was Fleur’s first time auditioning, while Ava tried out and was selected in 2023. The course is described as “an intense six-day orchestral event” and is run by the Christchurch Forte Team of Itinerant Music Teachers (an attached unit of Hagley College). Ava and Fleur will be performing as part of a full-size orchestra made up of 80 secondary students from 33 schools across 12 different centres across New Zealand.

Ava has been playing violin for ten years, and is also learning piano here at school. She really enjoyed the course last year, particularly the opportunities to improve her skills, perform at the concert, and make new friends, some of whom she was able to meet up with throughout the year when they travelled to Wellington for other musical events.

Fleur has been playing the flute since she was in Year 4 and accompanied the WGC choir at The Big Sing last year, where she won an excellence award. She has been studying piano for twelve years and is a member of Ngā Korimako and the New Zealand Academy Choir. Fleur is looking forward to the course and to meeting other young musicians.

Both Fleur and Ava are members of the Wellington Youth Orchestra as well, having been selected last year. They encourage other young musicians to get involved and audition for opportunities like the NZSSSO course, even if they are unsure at first. “It’s always worth auditioning – it’s a good experience and will improve your playing.”