CMNZ Chamber Music

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Joshua Chin - Cello

How long have you been playing?

I have been playing the cello for 6.5 years.

Where did you learn to play?

I started learning cello at Saturday Morning Music Classes. The teachers there saw that I had lots of potential, so they sent me to learn from Dr Heleen du Plessis, who is now my teacher.

What do you enjoy about classical music?

Classical music is my favourite type of music (followed by romantic, then baroque), and I like the mood of it. Classical music is also quite expressful and emotive, which is why I like playing it. (By the way, the music that I played in chamber music was baroque and romantic, not classical!). I like how baroque music is light and delicate. I like romantic music because of the same reasons I like classical music (mood, expressfulness and emotions in the piece).

What were the challenges?

I entered two groups - the Baroque one was tricky because we only had about 5 rehearsals together. Because it was baroque music, even though it was easy to learn the notes, lots of attention to detail was required. Our piece also needed a piano, which made rehearsals quite hard (it's hard to find a proper grand piano!). For the Romantic group, we had a relatively easy and fun piece, but it was still difficult to polish and fix up little details. We also had time constraints (as we didn't start preparing until quite late).

Theo Richards - Viola

How long have you been playing?

I originally started playing Violin around 2016 and switched to Viola 4 years ago. I wanted to play a lower string instrument and didn't want to carry a Cello so it was a good in-between, the Viola is strung the same as a Cello but one octave higher!

Where did you learn to play?

I started with Suzuki Violin at Saturday Morning Music for my first year and then moved straight into private lessons with my teacher Ella George.

What do you enjoy about classical music?

I really like to play music in groups like the orchestra - I'm currently playing with the Dunedin Youth Orchestra. Sometimes I'm not familiar with the music until we play, but I always find it really enjoyable when we put it all together. The Chamber music competition is a great chance to play classical music for an audience in a smaller group, which makes it easier to prepare for!

What were the challenges?

It was hard to pull off with just five group practices and different skill levels between players - the most difficult part is putting all the individual parts together and working as a team.

Freddie Richards - Violin

How long have you been playing?

I've been playing for 6-7 years since my family encouraged me to start lessons.

Where did you learn to play?

I started with Suzuki classes at Saturday Morning Music and then moved into private lessons later on. I'm currently playing with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra Academy.

What do you enjoy about classical music?

I enjoy the harmony and how everything sounds when we put it all together. I like playing all the different styles on offer!

What were the challenges?

The hardest part was putting all of our parts together as a group after we'd all practiced separately and finding enough time to practice as a group. But it was worth the effort and we had fun! 18 teams entered and we were one of just 5 groups who were highly commended.

Dominic Cheng - Clarinet

How long have you been playing?

I have been playing since the beginning of 2023 - just two years!

Where did you learn to play?

Firstly, I did begin at Saturday Morning Music then I switched to private lessons in 2024.

What do you enjoy about classical music?

I enjoy all aspects of classical music, it is my favourite type of music, and it is also what makes me want to play.

What were the challenges?

The biggest challenge I think was playing together well. I think that we all could play very well on our own but the challenge was putting it together perfectly. We practiced for months in preparation for this!

Well done to all the musicians who entered CMNZ this year. A special congratulations to Freddie, Theo and Htin Bone Pyaet Kyaw who were highly commended for their performance of 'Fior Usga' in their group Tuatha dé Danann' - and Joshua, who was awarded highly commended for his group 'A Quaver too Short'!