16 Jun 2021

54th National Concerto Competition

From Upbeat, 12:30 pm on 16 June 2021
Finalists, National Concerto Competition 2020-21 (l to r: April Ju, Hyein Kim, Catherine Kwak)

Finalists, National Concerto Competition 2020-21 (l to r: April Ju, Hyein Kim, Catherine Kwak) Photo: Jade Spence Photography

The grand final of the 54th National Concerto Competition takes place this Saturday 19 June after Covid-related postponement earlier this year.

And for the first time in 10 years, the Competition is back in the fully-restored James Hay Theatre, Christchurch Town Hall.

This year's finalists are: 

April Ju (violin) playing Sibelius' Violin Concerto; Hyein Kim (cello) playing Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante; and Catherine Kwak (cello) playing Dvorak's Cello Concerto. They'll be performing with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra under conductor Kenneth Young.

Upbeat talked with National Concerto Competition Chair Michael Lawrence about the contest. 

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Photo: National Concerto Competition

 

54th National Concerto Competition Final
Saturday 19 June, 7.30pm
James Hay Theatre, Christchurch Town Hall

RNZ is recording the final, which will be broadcast on RNZ Concert on Thursday 24 June in OnStage at 1pm.