King's High students were treated to Dunedin Symphony Orchestra at the Town Hall

Jo Dryden —

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra – formerly Dunedin Sinfonia provides free tickets to high school students to each of its Town Hall concerts.

The first half of the concert featured New Zealand composers, and performers on both orchestral instruments and on taonga puoro (traditional maori instruments). Celebrating Matariki reflects the universal fascination with stars and planets, including the phenomenon of Matariki which signals the Mãori New Year.

Continuing with the astrological theme, the second half featured a performance Holst's The Planets. It was a truly ground-breaking, awesome concert experience combining Western orchestral tradition and traditional culture of Aoteoroa. The spirit of Matariki was well and truly celebrated. A real treat enjoyed by all.

It was also great to see King's Old Boy Nathanial Otley in the String Section on 1st Violin.