Christchurch School Of Music Sinfonia
Conductor: Neville Forsythe
Sinfonia is the 2nd highest ranked orchestra in the Christchurch School of Music. Students are selected on ability from the ranks of the School as well as from outside applicants.
Sinfonia is a full Symphony Orchestra, playing works from a wide range of repertoire.
We rehearse every Saturday if the school term from 11.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. in the Hall of Catholic Cathedral College (access via the Music Centre Barbadoes St or direct form Ferry Rd.
** Visitors are welcome at any time! **
Each year Sinfonia joins with CSM and community groups to present concerts.
Sinfonia is the first CSM group to have produced a CD recording (Gounod's Mass to St Cecilia, performed in the Christchurch Catholic Cathedral, reputed to be the finest Basilica in the southern hemisphere) in which CSM Youth Choir joined with the CBS Choir and Schola Cantorum, a community choir).
2009 Programme
2009 has opened with many changes of personnel, including a new leader, violinist Steve Park and assistant conductor Grant Bartley.
The programme for the first half year has been the effervescent Overture from Die Fliedermaus by Johann Strauss II, The Young Prince and the Princess from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade, Branms’ Hungarian Dances Nos 6 & 7, and Coates’ Dambusters March. At the annual combined concert of CSM Senior Groups, we also combined forces with the Intermediate Symphony Orchestra to play another favourite of Rimsky-Korsakov – The Procession of the Nobles.
A repeat performance of most of these works was given at the 29th Christchurch SBS Marathon – organizers of the 2008 event were so thrilled by our participation last year that a repeat invitation was issued, (as it was again for next year!).
A special moment occurred after our term 1 Lunch-time Concert, when a CSM parent (unsolicited) that (hailing from Vienna), she “had never heard a southern hemisphere orchestra capture the special rhythmic charm of the Viennese waltz”, until she heard our performance! She added that the comment included any “professional orchestras” that she had heard over quite a number of years.
The next period will lead up to a new revamped and combined Open-Day / Showcase Concert in August at the Christchurch Town Hall.
We urgently seek players in the cello and brass sections due to unexpected changes of circumstance of a number of players.
2008 Programme
A new year and a new programme. Opening rehearsals explored L'Arlesienne by Bizet, Shostakovich's Ballet Suite No 2 and The Tribute to Richard Rodgers which features several of his most loved tunes from great Hollywood Shows and Movies.
Vaughan Williams' English Folk Song Suite with its brisk marching outer movements and its solemn spooky inner movement have proved both a challenge and a reward.
A few weeks into the term and we are working hard on two of the colourful Scenes Pittoresque - the alternately quietly introspective and majestically grand Angelus and the exuberantly exciting Fete Boheme with its atmosphere of energy and colour.
Concerts scheduled for this year include the Citadel Senior Groups Concert on May 24th and following on from the success of our support for last year's Cycle Race, we are to feature as guest orchestra in the Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium on June 1st for the finish of the Christchurch Marathon!
SBS Christchurch Marathon Enjoys Classy Music
Sinfonia members, (assisted by some welcome helpers), added a festive note to the SBS Christchurch Marathon Prizegiving Ceremony in the magnificent acoustic of The Christchurch Town Hall. It is a rare occasion when a young orchestra gets to play in the Town Hall and Sinfonia made the most of this wonderful opportunity to perform to an audience of around 1500.
Items included Two of Vaughan Williams' vibrant English Folk Songs, tributes to Richard Rodgers and Leroy Anderson, Thunder & Lightning Polka by Strauss, Carousel Waltz and Angleus and Fete Boheme by Massenet. The latter provided a spectacular fanfare that "raised the roof" just on opening time and later Sinfonia performed the whole movement to a rapidly emptying hall! Organisers were thrilled with the extra "sense of occasion" provided by Sinfonia and immediately booked us for next year (noting that we could well play during the Ceremony).
Apart from the inevitable feeling of being "background music" it was nevertheless a great opportunity not only to play in a wonderful venue but to a totally new and large audience.
We understand Helen Renaud conductor of Orchestra 3 was a competitor in the half marathon. Her results are yet to be disclosed.
Later of course we will have the CSM Showcase Concert.....and who knows what wacky end-of-year trip will be in store?
The coming weeks will be active as we prepare for the first concerts of a busy season of appearances. Some Polkas, Marches, Carousel Waltz and other pieces are on the rehearsal schedule.
2007 Programme
2007 Started with a very full-on first rehearsal. We welcomed back many of last-year's members and graduates from Orchestra 3. An amazing 5 double basses and 10 cellos provided a great foundation for the orchestra and all sections are complete except for French horn. Our first term programme is focused on the end -of - term lunchtime concert. The next major scheduled concert is to be a combined concert with The Christchurch Youth Orchestra and Orchestra Three in the Salvation Army Citadel followed by a Concert with the Steadfast Boys' Brigade Brass Band to be held in the second last week of term 2 (June 23) also in the Salvation Army Citadel Victoria Square.
Repertoire for the start of year includes Edward German's colourful "Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor", "A Salute to the Big Bands" (real Hollywood glitzy symphony stuff orchestrated by Calvin Custer) and "Children of Sanchez", (a Spanish-American dramatic portrait by Chuck Maggione). Music from "The Wizard of Oz" and a couple of lighter songs - "Misty" and "From a Distance" complete the starting line-up. Mars fron The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst and Espana by Emannuel Chabrier form the rest of Term Two's programme.
The remainder of the year played out very successfully, the Citadel Concert with the Steadfast Boys Brigade Band being so popular that we were immediately signed up for 2008! Highlight was the joint item Children of Sanchez.
The Showcase concert as usual was a grand affair with combind items featuring the whole school, along with other coombinations such as Sinfonia & Orchestra 3's "Mars" from The Planets.
The end of year venture developed into a major day out - Sinfonia & Orchestra 3 left town at 9.00a.m. and stopped for the first playing in a marquee at the top of Gebbies Pass to the cyclists of the Armstrong Cycle Festival! What a surprise and rather surreal.
Next stop was Little River Railway Station where we stopped for a few Christmas numbers.
Moving on to the French Farm Winery we alternately played and lunched before setting out for Akaroa..........
...........where we played in the lovely old restored Gaiety Hall. Fish'n'chips on the waterfront and back to town by 7p.m.
2006 Programme
2006 was a busy year with a combined camp in the first term, several concerts and a unique one day Tour of Canterbury. Imagine the surreal experience of the travellers on the Trans alpine Express as it pulled into Sheffield Station to the sight and sound of a seventy piece orchestra playing Chatanooga Choo Choo, Waltz of the Flowers and various Christmas compositions. White Christmas cought the right ambience in the frosty morning air with a back-drop of the snow covered Southern Alps behind. A quick pack-up and dash to Ashburton (to a meagre audience who however gave a standing ovation - and a short speech of appreciation made by half of the audience!) and light lunch was followed by a more leisurely drive to Methven. The town was busy with locals and visitors coming and going to see the Christmas panorama in the Community Hall. Both orchestras played individually and together then walked through the display to have a light afternoon tea. A sadly less than palatable meal of fish'n chips cooked in rancid oil was consumed on the grass, then we once again climbed aboard our buses to return to Christchurch 11 hours after our 7.00a.m. departure.
2005 Programme CSM 50th Jubilee Year
2005 successfully under way with 2 basses welcomed. Vacancies exist in brass. Some supplementary positions available in double reed (Oboe & Bassoon). Term 1 is to conclude on Saturday 16 April with a lunch-time concert shared by Orchestra 3 and CYRE. A luncheon will follow as a social get-together.
Sunday 3 July is the Aurora Concert featuring SInfonia and the orchestras on either side (CYO and Orch 3).
As indicated above this is CSM's 50th Jubilee year and the Annual Showcase Concert in August will be the centre piece of a weekend of celebrations from19 - 21 August. Watch for more details.
2004 Programme
2004 has been another auspicious year for Sinfonia. In May a combimed concert with the Chrischurch Youth Orchestra and Orchestra Three saw a succesful indiviual bracket followed by a joint performance of Finlandia - a most impressive array. So successful was his item that Sinfonia performed it twice more. Once with the Steadfast Boys Brigade Brass Band in the Salvation Army Citadel Victoria Square and again with the two sister orchestras in the Showcase Concert. The last mentioned was a successful event which climaxed with a performance of the music for Lord of the Rings accompned by images from many different sources inspired by that great trilogy.
Sinfonia still has vacancies in Viola, Double Bass, Trumpet and French Horn.
2003 Programme
Another year is well under way and Sinfonia ends a busy first term by hosting a Family Concert at Christ's College Auditorium on Saturday 12 April at 7.30 p.m. The programme is shared by visiting BHP Steel Youth Orchestra from Wollongong Australia. Works include "The Merry Wives of Windsor Overture", English Folk Songs Suite, Handel's Water Music Suite No 2 and works by Poulenc, Ginastera, Granados and Nigel Edwards (conductor of BHPS YO). In a rare coincidence both conductors of this concert are bassoonists.
Although there is to be no residential camp this year, Sinfonia has already had its first day-long workshop at Cracroft Girl Guide Centre in Cashmere. Socially and musically it was a great success and will no doubt be repeated. A workshop performance gave relatives and friends a tantalising glimpse of the orchestra's progress to date.
Sinfonia still has vacancies in Double Bass, Trombone, Trumpet and Bassoon.
2002 Programme
Sinfonia's began 2002 slightly understaffed particularly in lower strings and brass. However recruitments during the first term have improved the situation although there are still vacancies for 3rd trombone, 3rd trumpet, tuba, double-basses (three preferred). Other sections are reasonably well filled although we would welcome extra numbers in any string section.
So far the orchestar has appeared twice in concert. The first was a CSM lunchtime concert held at the end of term one where the orchestra displayed its rapid progress from earlier in the year.
Buddha's Birthday was observed in Christchurch's Cathedral Square on Saturday 13 April and Sinfonia was pleased to respond to a request to accompany the CSM Girls' Choir in the NZ National Anthem and lighter choral items.
As our first public engagement for the year this was a good opportunity to show our abilities to the wider community although limitations were imposed by a disappointingly low turn out from our already meagre lower string sections.
Music Camp is scheduled for May 3 - 5 where once again the orchestra will benefit from the opportunity to work intensively on new repertoire. A concert for parents, families and friends will be given on the Sunday afternoon at 1.00 p.m. prior to breaking camp.
It is hoped that we will be able to present Christchurch (NZ) composer Tony Ryan's Saxophone Concerto with local soloist Mary-Jane Vanilau. This challenging work is characterised by energetic outer movements and a lovely slow middle movement.
At the end of the second term Sinfonia will once again accompany the young finalists in the Christchurch Competitions Society's annual piano Concerto Competition.
2001 Programme
Sinfonia's first activities for 2001 included the annual Orchestra Camp held at Living Springs on Banks Peninsula. This was be the fifth such camp and followed the established pattern of rehearsal, recreation, resting and replenishing in the lovely hillside setting of NZ native bush, overlooking the picturesque Lyttelton Harbour.
Preparation for the Orchestra's first major concert items included Josef Strauss's Village Swallows Over Austria, Weinberger's popular Overture to Schwanda the Bagpiper and combined items with the Australian Children's Choir, Christchurch Youth Choir, and the Christchurch Youth Recorder Ensemble.
The concert held on March 31 at 7.30 p.m. in the auditorium of Christchurch Boys' High School was a great success and finished with a supper for our visiting guests and local performers.
The next term culminated in the Christchurch Competitions Society's annual piano Concerto Competition with Sinfonia accompanying the four young finalists.
Other appearances for 2001 included a lunchtime concert and participation in the annual Christmas Tree Festival held in the Christchurch Convention Centre.
2000 Programme
Sinfonia began 2000 again as in previous years with a Music Camp at Living Springs overlooking Lyttelton Harbour. An enjoyable weekend was had by all. Much hard work went into sectionals and full rehearsals and the results were displayed to parents on the Sunday afternoon. The social side of camp allowed new players to acquaint themselves with the orchestra. Sectionals and full orchestral rehearsals were balanced by outdoor activities and entertainment in the tranquil setting. Great meals and excellent facilities characterise Living Springs which is run by a non-profit Christian Trust.
In July a chamber orchestra drawn from Sinfonia's ranks, accompanied three finalists in the Christchurch Competitions Society Piano Concerto Final.
(Conductor Neville Forsythe took leave for the remainder of 2000. Patrick Shepherd generously stepped in to work with the orchestra for the remainder of 2000).
1999 Programme
Premiere Performance - Orchestra With a Difference
Sinfonia's first concert for 1999 saw the presentation of another New Zealand first on March 27 in the hall of Christ's College Rolleston Avenue at 7.30 p.m. in a joint concert with the CSM Stage Jazz Band (Director: Stephen Nicholls).
The programme featured the New Zealand premiere performance of jazz composer Sven Libaek's Australian Suite under the direction of Neville Forsythe. The six movements present powerful and evocative images of Australian scenery and life from the barren Nullarbor to the bustling city Australia Square; the Snowfields to the Riverina; Mt Isa and the Kimberleys.
Australia Square featured the jazz musicians solo while the other five movements made an easy mix of symphonic and jazz idoms.
Sinfonia's second appearance was in a joint concert in the Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday 19 June.
Groups appearing included the CSM Girls' Choir, Christchurch Youth Choir, CSM Sinfonia, Canterbury University Campus Choir and CYRE.
1999 JAPAN FESTIVAL honours Dr Kawasi.
The CSM Sinfonia was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Isamu Kawasi, just three days after their performance in his presence of the first movement of "Dear New Zealand" at the Christchurch New Zealand Japan Festival.
The Suite was dedicated by Dr Kawasi in appreciation for the hospitality of New Zealand offered to him over many decades. (Dr Kawasi studied Agricultural Science at Lincoln College in the 1930's and became the first Japanese to graduate from a NZ Tertiary Institute).
He went on in later years to help establish the New Zealand Japan Festival which is held every two years in Christchurch.
Sinfonia was honoured to perform in Dr Kawasi's presence and regard the occasion with special affection.
Sinfonia offers its condolences to the family of Dr Kawasi and to the many friends and dignitaries who respected and admired his energy enthusiasm and creativity and his unstinting dedication to friendship between Japan and New Zealand.
1998 Programme
Engagements in 1998 included hosting International Bassoonist Yoshi Ishikawa in a performance ofWeber's Andante and Hungarian Rondo; A combined concert in Christ Church Cathedral with CSM Choirs and the University of Canterbury Campus Choir (director Simon de Jong); CSM Choral Department Concert in Oxford Terrace Baptist Church.
Sinfonia's last concert appearance for 1998 was on Sunday 22 November with community music groups celebrating the Music Centre of Christchurch. Items included Angelus from Scenes Pittoresque by Massenet and choral works by the choirs. The concert was held in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St Christchurch.The concert also featured a performance of the St Cecilia Mass by Gounod with the community choirs accompanied by the Christchurch School of Music Sinfonia.