Welcome sign rolled out in Auckland for chamber quartet

Four concerts in four weeks from one end of the country might not look that ‘relaxed’. But the musicians and audiences taking part in Chamber Music New Zealand’s relaxed and accessible concerts had a ball.

The 2019 Relaxed Concert Series ran from 5 September to 4 October and visited Napier, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Auckland. They combine performance with workshops and everyone is encouraged to get involved – to sing, dance and move to the music.

The concerts were led this year by community musician Julian Raphael with Wellington-based improvising chamber quartet The Noveltones, featuring Blair Latham (bass clarinet), Tristan Carter (violin), Jasmine Lovell-Smith (soprano saxophone) and Tom Callwood (double bass).

In Auckland for the last concert of the series, the musicians worked with adults at the Ranfurly Centre in Epsom. It was a return visit to Ranfurly and the concert was keenly anticipated by concert-goers, who had made a welcome sign for the musicians.