The Wellington-based Aroha String Quartet celebrates a double anniversary next month. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Aroha Quartet, one of Aotearoa’s finest classical chamber music ensembles. It’s also the tenth anniversary of the Quartet’s mid-year ASQ International Music Academy, a week-long string orchestra and chamber ensemble course for student and adult non-professional string players.
Three events in the second week of July mark this occasion, all taking place at St Andrew’s on The Terrace in Wellington. On Wednesday 10 July at 12:15 pm the members of the Aroha Quartet will be joined by former members of the Quartet along with guest tutors and players from ten years of the ASQ Academy to perform music by Boccherini, Arensky and Mozart.
Later that week at 5:30 pm on Friday 12 July the Aroha Quartet, together with NZSO double bassist Oleksandr Gunchenko, will play three exciting works for string quintet by the French composer George Onslow, Auckland-based composer Louise Webster, and Czech composer Antonin Dvorak.
Finally, at a Gala Concert on Saturday 13 July at 5 pm the participants of the tenth ASQ International Music Academy will present small ensemble works by composers such as Boccherini, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Onslow, Schubert and Dvorak. The Academy string orchestra, conducted by NZSO Associate Concertmaster Donald Armstrong, will play the famous ’Night Music from the Streets of Madrid’ by Boccherini and Elgar’s Introduction & Allegro with the members of the Aroha Quartet as soloists.
Entry to all three events is by koha/donation
Aroha Quartet first violinist Haihong Liu said “Back in 2004 four musicians who’d arrived in Aotearoa from China became friends and discovered their common love of playing chamber music together. We dug into our library to find string quartets to play to John Nixon, a friend from New Caledonia. John said to us ‘All you need is a name and a public concert’. So on 4 July 2004 the new Aroha String Quartet gave its official debut to a full house of more than 200 people in a church in Te Aroha.
“Although some of the members of the Quartet have changed over the years we still share that passion for chamber music.” said Haihong.
Ten years ago the Aroha Quartet held its first ASQ International Music Academy in Newtown, Wellington. Space was limited in the community centre where this Academy was held, so some groups rehearsed in other buildings nearby, including the home of one of the Quartet members.
Cathie McCallum, Administrator of the ASQ International Music Academy, said “Each year the ASQ Academy seems to get more exciting than the previous one! It’s an amazing course, and with this year being the tenth I am certain that it will be even more special.
“I am really looking forward to the concert at St Andrew’s on the Terrace at Wednesday lunchtime with many of the former members of the quartet and previous tutors. The Gala Concert is always really special to all the participants and their sense of achievement is very obvious. It’s such a great night!”
About the Aroha Quartet
Acclaimed as demonstrating “accomplished brilliance, soulfulness and sublime intensity in perfect balance and tonal unity” (The Dominion Post), the Aroha String Quartet is firmly established as one of New Zealand’s finest chamber music ensembles.
Founded in 2004, this versatile Wellington-based quartet is known for its passionate musicality, impressive technique, and multicultural innovation.
Haihong Liu and Zhongxian Jin are original members of the Aroha Quartet. Robert Ibell joined the group in 2009 and Konstanze Artmann in 2018.
The Aroha Quartet is committed to presenting string quartet works from western classical and avant-garde repertoire to traditional Chinese folk music, as well as works for larger forces through collaborations with numerous high-profile musicians.
The Aroha Quartet performs regularly around NZ in centres from the Deep South to the Far North. In 2014 they performed five concerts as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s Kaleidoscope series. Overseas trips have seen them participate in the prestigious International Summer Academy in Austria in 2010, give concerts and masterclasses in China in 2010 and 2013, and perform at the Huntington Music Festival in Australia in 2011.
The Aroha Quartet runs the annual ASQ International Music Academy, a week-long chamber music course. The tenth ASQ Academy will take place in Wellington in July 2024. The Quartet’s fourth ASQ International Academy in Asia took place in Zhongshan, China, in late January 2024.
About the ASQ International Music Academy
The 2024 Academy is situated at St Andrew’s on The Terrace and will begin on Monday 8 July at 9:30am. Each day, participants will be busy with chamber music coaching and rehearsals taken by members of the Aroha String Quartet. Guest tutors will direct ensembles and classes in technique and musicianship.
The ASQ International Music Academy will culminate in a Gala Concert in St Andrew’s on the evening of Saturday 13 July
The timetable includes time to practice, to relax and socialise with other participants. In the evenings, there is time for informal concerts, workshops, and a sight-reading soiree, as well as other social events.
The ASQ International Music Academy is ideally suited to string players with a minimum standard of Grade VI. Pre-formed chamber ensembles are encouraged to apply. Participants not in an existing group are organised into ensembles for coaching. Music is sent out in advance.
The guest tutors for 2024 are:
Donald Armstrong (NZSO Associate Concertmaster) – Violin & String Orchestra Conductor
Belinda Veitch (NZSO) – Viola
David Chickering (NZSO Section Principal Emeritus) – Cello
Oleksandr Gunchenko (NZSO) – Double Bass.
