Student harp trio shines on stage

ACG Parnell College

A young chamber music group from ACG Parnell College has won Best Performance of a New Zealand Work in the Auckland District Rounds of the 2016 NZCT Chamber Music Contest.

The Hamilton Gardens Harp Trio: violinist Borson Wong, 15, harpist Sophie Garrett, 16, and soprano Alice Hall, 17, premiered three movements from an original piece, 'A Small Garden of Songs', which was written for them by well-known NZ composer and conductor David Hamilton.

The success gained them an opportunity to perform at Open Stage, a pre-concert event for Chamber Music New Zealand’s concert at the Auckland Town Hall this week. The group will also perform at the APO Inspire Chamber Music Showcase next month.

Dr Julie Garner, Performing Arts Curriculum Coordinator at ACG Parnell College, said the group had overcome numerous challenges. “They had to learn a work that had never previously been heard, grapple with the technical and musical challenges presented by the music, agree on musical shape and find sufficient rehearsal times at school,” she explained.

The trio was very lucky to have the input of composer David Hamilton, she said. “He gave insight into the piece that could only have been provided by the person who wrote it. This was invaluable in the latter stages of rehearsals.”

So what inspires the musically minded youngsters? “You can lose yourself and express yourself with music,” soprano, Alice, explained. “It is fascinating to place yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand and reflect varying emotions. Music is a way of communicating that is universally understood.”

ACG Parnell College is holding an Open Day on Saturday 30 July from 10:30am – 2:30pm. Learn More