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ARTISTS: Simeon Broom (violin), Rachel Church (piano), Victoria Simonsen (cello), Sarah Masters (clarinet)
Four talented musicians have combined to create an exciting new group – the Akoka Quartet. The members are all New Zealanders who have been studying and performing in the United Kingdom and Europe, each with an impressive biography.
Clarinettist Sarah Masters graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with a Master of Music and Postgraduate Diploma, and currently performs in the UK’s top professional orchestras including the Hallé Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic. Violinist Simeon Broom has been a finalist in the Beares Solo Bach Competition in London, and was the winner of the Duo-Sonata Competition 2009 at the North London Music Festival with pianist Rachel Church. Rachel completed her Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, after studies at the prestigious Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. Described as 'a musician of rare quality' by The Strad and 'beautifully sensitive and composed' by The Times, cellist Victoria Simonsen has won a number of competitions, including the 2008 Royal Over-Seas League Strings Competition.
| Date | Programme | Time | Venue | Centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 April 12 | Programme | 7.30pm | Concert Chamber Rotorua Convention Centre |
Rotorua |
| 22 April 12 | Programme | 3pm | Ilott Theatre Wellington Town Hall |
Wellington (Sunday Concerts) |
| 27 April 12 | Programme | 6.30pm | Montana Brancott Estate Winery | Blenheim |
| 28 April 12 | Programme | 7.30pm | Mahurangi College Hall | Warkworth |
| 29 April 12 | Programme | 7pm | Mills Reef Winery | Tauranga |
...the playing as a whole was sublime.Read full reviewHanno Fairburn, Rotorua Daily Post - 23 Apr 2012
their ensemble work [was] impeccable and their dynamics, shading and colours were perfectRead full reviewVal Sherriff - 29 Apr 2012
Memorable concert by visiting expatriate musiciansRead full reviewRosemary Collier, Middle C - 22 Apr 2012
It was musicianship of the highest order.Read full reviewBasil Stanton, Marlborough Express - 30 Apr 2012