Sound Bites February 2024
Welcome to the first 2024 issue of Sound Bites - the newsletter that keeps you up to date with education events at the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa.
In this issue, we introduce the NZSO’s newest member of the Education Team and promote the top three ways your school can engage with the NZSO this year - our FREE Online Classroom Sessions, Firebird Schools’ Concerts and our FREE Online Teacher Sessions!
Introducing Chris Lam Sam – the NZSO’s new touring Animateur for schools
Chris is the first full-time Music Education Animateur for the NZSO! An Animateur is a creative professional who works to introduce and inspire young and diverse audiences to an artform, in this case, music. Since 2000, Chris has worked in more than one thousand schools and early childhood centres as a musician and educator. He is very excited about working with ākonga and kaiako to create life-long connections with symphonic music and your national orchestra.
And now for the top three ways your school can engage with the NZSO this year
1. Book a FREE Online Classroom Session
Bring the NZSO to your classroom.
In this FREE 45-minute Zoom session presented by our NZSO Animateur, your students will discover what an orchestra is, meet some of our talented musicians, and listen to the NZSO perform excerpts of some of the greatest orchestral music ever written! There will also be opportunities for questions.
These sessions are best suited for Year 3-8 students.
Dates
Tue, 12 Mar 9.30am – 10.15am & 1.30pm – 2.15pm
Tue, 09 Apr 9.30am – 10.15am & 1.30pm – 2.15pm
Thu, 11 Apr 9.30am – 10.15am & 1.30pm – 2.15pm
Tue, 07 May 9.30am – 10.15am & 1.30pm – 2.15pm
Tue, 21 May 9.30am – 10.15am & 1.30pm – 2.15pm
These sessions are FREE, but booking is essential. Book now to secure your spot.
2. Book an in-school Creative Music Workshop
These new interactive workshops, conducted at your school anywhere in New Zealand, will give your students a greater understanding of some of the exciting works performed by the NZSO this year! It’s also an opportunity for kids to explore sound and engage with the NZSO’s music in a fun and relaxed setting.
For just $5 per student, our Music Education Animateur will visit your school.
All NZSO workshops are designed to support the aims and objectives of the New Zealand Arts Curriculum and are suitable for primary through to intermediate level students.
See where our Animateur will be touring this year:
Auckland 12-16 Aug
Bay of Plenty 14-17 Oct
Blenheim 04-06 Jun
Carterton 31 May
Christchurch 11-14 Nov
Dunedin 12-13 Jun
Gisborne 04-08 Nov
Hawke's Bay 03-05 Apr
Invercargill 10-11 Jun
Kāpiti 08 May
Marlborough 09 May
Nelson 07 Jun
Nelson 21-22 Oct
Northland 09-13 Sep
Paraparaumu 10 May
Rotorua 26-27 Aug
Taranaki 24-27 Jun
Waikato 20-23 Aug
Wellington 05-09 Aug
Wellington 23-31 May
Westport 18-19 Nov
And more!
If your school is outside these areas, or the dates do not suit, please contact us to discuss alternative options.
How to book
To book a workshop, please email our Animateur at chris.lam.sam@nzso.co.nz.
3. Book tickets to our interactive Schools’ Concerts
The Firebird and other amazing music adventures
Bring your school to the NZSO’s fully interactive children’s concert! Music Director Emeritus James Judd and NZSO guest educator Rachel Leach will lead your students on an exciting adventure with one of Igor Stravinsky’s great masterpieces – The Firebird.
Rachel will explore the story within the music and explain how Stravinsky uses the orchestra to bring this exciting tale to life. This story has it all – a magical Firebird, an evil King, a dashing Prince, and thirteen Princesses! There will be opportunities to join in, including singing one of Rachel’s specially composed songs. Alongside The Firebird, you’ll also hear a ghostly tale from Manuel de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance, and a new work by New Zealand composer, Sai Natarajan, called, We Long for An Adventure.
Schools’ Concerts presented in Blenheim, Dunedin, Invercargill and Wellington
Booking is essential; seats are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Thu, 30 May, 11am – 12pm
ASB Theatre, Blenheim
Thu, 06 Jun, 11am – 12pm
Civic Theatre, Invercargill
Tue, 11 Jun, 11am – 12pm
Dunedin Town Hall, Dunedin
Thu, 13 Jun, 11am – 12pm
Ticket prices*
$10 School Children/Teachers
$20 Additional Adults
*Please note that one teacher is required to attend for every nine students, with up to a maximum of five additional parents or teachers. Groups must include a minimum of 10 people.
Performance run-time is approximately one hour. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time.
TEACHER BONUS - FREE Online Teachers’ Session and Teaching Resource on The Firebird
NZSO Guest Animateur Rachel Leach will lead an online teachers’ session on Tue, 21 May, 3.30pm – 5pm and demonstrate creative classroom activities that will deepen your children’s understanding of the music.
We’ll also provide a free online educational resource pack and Rachel’s special song so you can fit the performance preparation into your curriculum and teaching objectives. No prior musical experience necessary.
Our Schools’ Concerts and Workshops are always popular – BOOK NOW, so you don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!
For all enquiries, please contact the NZSO Education & Community Engagement Team at education@nzso.co.nz.
Nā mātou noa, nā
The Education and Community Engagement Team