The Academy of Strings

Spring Concert was conducted by Philip Chiu, on Sunday, 9th September, 2:00 at All Saints’ Church, Howick. The highlights were the Yellow River Fantasias (2nd & 3rd movements from Yellow River Piano Concerto re-orchestrated for string orchestra) with Flora Lee, Young Performer Of 2002 National Award Winner, at the piano.

A series of string orchestra workshops were held from 26th May to 23rd June, with an Open Rehearsal on 23rd June 2007.

Annual Dinner on Sunday, 17 September, 2006, was held at Malaysia Ngonya Restaurant – a social function with 92 participants.

A series of string orchestra workshops were arranged on 4 Saturdays after the Winter Concert on Sunday, 28 May. The main objectives of the workshops are Discipline and Reading at Sight. The workshops ended on 24 June with an Open Rehearsal & Tea for The Friends of the Academy and family members of the players.

The Winter Concert was a great success. The Auditorium at te tuhi had a full house with some late-comers standing by the wall throughout the concert.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary in 2006, The Academy of Strings started with the Original Musical Compositions Awards (2006) last December. This project aims at inviting young composers to write music for our community. The theme of music is LIVING IN HARMONY.
Four beautiful compositions were chosen to compete in the 2nd Round: Alexandra Chan’s “Peace To All”, William Chong’s “Chips and Chopsticks”, Ajita Goh’s “Three Main Courses and a Dirty Napkin” and Jared Marshall’s “Surrounded By the Deep”, performed by The Academy of Strings at the 10th Anniversary Concert on Sunday, 9 April, 2006.

All 4 competitors received souvenir cups and prize money, and William Chong walked away with the first prize.
16 players of The Academy of Strings performed with other performing groups in a Christmas Celebration on Sunday, 4 December, at te tuhi, organised by te tuhi.

Anuual Dinner on Sunday, 18 September 2005, was held at Waipuna Convention Centre. 82 participants, including all players, tutors, guests, staff, Friends of the Academy, and their family members, enjoyed a lovely evening together with nice food, joyful communications and in good friendship.

27 players and their family members enjoyed a wonderful day on 2 July, 2005 on Waiheke Island and especially entertained at the Musical Instruments Museum.

5 workshops for string orchestra players were held on 28 May, 4 June, 11 June, 18 June, leading to an Open Rehearsal on 25 June exclusively for players’ family members and The Friends of the Academy.

2004 End-of-year Dinner was held on 12 September 2004 at New Mong Kok Chinese Restaurant where about 90 player-members, staff, tutors, guests and The Friends of the Academy enjoyed a time together and reflect on the past year.

21 players and some of their parents went on a trip to Napier from 18 September to 20 September. A concert was played with Hawkes Bay musicians on 19 September at St John's Cathedral, Napier.

2004 4 Workshops on week-ends were run for local string players leading to a concert on 26 June 2004.

2003 End-of-year Buffet Dinner was held on 14 September 2003 at Voyager Restaurant, Waipuna Centre where about 90 player-members, staff, tutors, guests and The Friends of the Academy enjoyed a time together and reflect on the past year.

Violinists: Susan Wang, William Chong, Jenny Chung, Bonnie Leung, Frankie Lin, Dennis Liu, Shirley Park, Courtney Pelkowitz, Andrew Peng, Jimmy Peng, Willy Sun and Cellists: Min-Gih Choi, Henry Chong & Jocellin Lee participated in the concert with Auckland Philharmonia & Auckland Choral Society on 21 June 2003. Playing Panufnik's Thames Pageant conducted by Peter Watts.

2002 End-of-year Buffet Dinner was held on 15 September 2002 at Voyager Restaurant, Waipuna Centre where about 90 player-members, staff, tutors, guests and The Friends of the Academy enjoyed a time together and reflect on the past year.

The Friends of The Academy were invited to an Open Day on Saturday 17 August 2002 in the Social Room at te tuhi where a special tea-reception was prepared from 3:30 to 4:30 and had a chance to see the orchestra rehearse from 4:00 - 5:00. Around 30 people attended this event and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

2001 End-of-year Buffet Dinner was held on 16 September 2001 at Voyager Restaurant, Waipuna Centre where about 80 player-members, staff, tutors, guests and The Friends of the Academy enjoyed a time together and reflect on the past year.

The Friends of The Academy were invited to an Open Day on Saturday 18 August 2001 in the Social Room at te tuhi where a special tea-reception was prepared from 3:30 to 4:30 and had a chance to see the orchestra rehearse from 4:00 onwards.

2000 End-of-year Buffet Dinner was held on 17 September 2000 at Malaysian Satay Restaurant, Whitford Road where about 60 player-members, staff, tutors, guests and The Friends of the Academy all had a wonderfully treated evening - a time just for relaxation and enjoyment.

The Friends of The Academy were invited to an Open Day on Saturday 26 August 2000 in the Social Room at Pakuranga Community Centre where a special tea-reception was prepared from 3:30 to 4:30. The Friends had a chance to see the orchestra they sponsored rehearse from 4:00 on.

1999 End-of-year Buffet Dinner was held at Howick Country Lodge, East Tamaki Road, Howick, on 19 September where The Friends of the Academy shared for the first time good western food with all the player-members, staff, tutors and guests.

1998 End-of-year Buffet Dinner was held in Cafe Peninsula, Meadowland Drive, Howick on 26 September 1998. 40 player-members, staff, tutors and guests participated in this enjoyable event

1997 The Academy of Strings had for the first time on 27 September a Buffet Dinner held at Shilla Korean Restaurant, Howick. 38 player-members, staff, tutor and guests all shared the joy of good food and wine together.

Press HERE back to Up and Coming Events