On 9 July, 2024, The Manukau Symphony Orchestra (MSO) was delighted to perform 'Brahms Double' with soloists Andrew Joyce and Amalia Hall, at the BNZ Theatre, Due Drop Events Centre. This concert featured a world premiere of a work for orchestra commissioned by the MSO, by young UK composer Sarah Francis Jenkins, performed with a visual background, special lighting and recorded by Classic Sound and videography by ExpressioNZ. This new work was performed and recorded with the generous financial assistance of the Freemasons Foundation.
The Impact on the Community
The commission, performance and recording of new works by up-and coming composers - as well as established composers - is an important part of the MSO ethos. As a community orchestra, the MSO has a level of freedom to engage with exciting artists both locally and around the world and to bring innovative ideas to our youthful South Auckland region.
Performing new works is both exciting for our players and our audiences - and offer an opportunity for all of our players to try new techniques and challenge their abilities. Composer Sarah Frances Jenkins from the UK initially reached out to the MSO to seek a collaboration with the MSO, as she felt the orchestra matched her vision of inclusivity and opportunity, and was impressed with the quality of sound the MSO makes for a Community Orchestra. Her compositions have been performed and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra and she has been a featured young composer in the 2022 Proms and several prestigious festivals in the UK.
Interview with Sarah is on the MSO website:
Recording this commission by the MSO was especially important, as Sarah was unable to travel to New Zealand to listen to this new work. She recorded an introduction to the piece which was played to the audience at the start of the performance.
The number of string players wanting to participate in this concert swelled exceedingly with Violin and Cello heroes Amalia Hall and Andrew Joyce as soloists for Brahms' Double Concerto. Playing alongside these wonderful soloists inspired and lifted the string section dramatically and the energy they brought to the stage was felt by everyone.
Andrew Joyce joined the Cello section for Dvorak's Symphony No.6 which surprised and delighted the cello section - who felt the influence of Joyce's sound and technical skill. Conductor Uwe Grodd felt that that performance was the best the orchestra had played Dvorak's symphony.
MSO youth scholarship winners Olivia Yang, Ryan Qiao, and Samantha Berrington were especially excited to perform with their idols Amalia Hall and Andrew Joyce.
Following the concert, which received a very warm and enthusiastic reception, the MSO held its traditional 'free supper' with its audience as a way to share in the orchestra's achievements and connect with friends and supporters.
The Manukau Symphony Orchestra is grateful to the Freemasons Foundation for its support of this concert and our orchestra. This programme in particular was a favourite of our musicians, and the camaraderie between players was particularly strong. With over 80musicians on stage from ages 11 to over 80 years, the MSO feels it has certainly impacted our community - offering an exciting experience for our players and a high quality musical performance for our audiences.
A message from Sarah:
“I wanted to email to say a huge thank you for the absolutely fabulous video recording of 'The Coming of Night' which I watched on YouTube today. It is so special for me to have such a beautifully performed, recorded and filmed video of the piece - thank you all so much, I can't put into words how delighted I am! I would be so grateful if you could please pass on my huge thanks to everyone in the orchestra and to the whole Manukau Symphony Orchestra team for performing and recording the performance so wonderfully.”
Sarah Francis Jenkins - Composer
Thanks to Freemasons Foundation:
‘We were delighted to receive support from the Freemasons Foundation for the premiere of this beautiful new work by Sarah Jenkins. Championing new work by upcoming composers and supporting young musicians is at the heart of the Manukau Symphony’s Kaupapa, and in 2025 we look forward to the world premiere of NZ Composer Adrien De Croy’s first symphony ‘The Resolute’ in March. We welcome back the prodigal young pianist Shan Liu, and feature two young musicians alongside the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition winners at the MSO Family Concert. 2025 will be a wonderful year of music making as we look forward to bringing South Auckland exciting classics and internationally acclaimed artists such as NZTrio and Michael Houstoun. We once again thank the Freemasons Foundation for their generous support and appreciation of our mahi.’
Shelley Robertson – General Manager, Manukau Orchestral Society
