Michael Fowler Centre
NZSO Emerging Artists: Young Musicians with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Overview
The NZSO Emerging Artists concert celebrates Aotearoa New Zealand's brightest young musical talent performing as soloists and orchestral instrumentalists alongside the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington. Six exceptional young soloists—including An Pham (violin), Ella Zhang (flute), David Zhu (oboe), Leo Liu (piano), Oliver Mar (cello), and Ozan Biner-McGrath (piano)—perform beloved classical works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and Richard Strauss, while 18 additional young musicians join the orchestra in a vibrant showcase of the next generation of performers.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is Aotearoa's national orchestra, renowned for nurturing emerging talent through its Emerging Artists programme—a career-launching platform that has seen previous participants go on to perform as soloists with the NZSO, National Youth Orchestra, and orchestras across New Zealand. Conducted by NZSO Principal Conductor-in-Residence Hamish McKeich, this concert is livestreamed free on NZSO+ for remote audiences. The Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington's premier venue, provides an acoustically excellent setting for this inspiring classical performance. 
Highlights
Six Elite Soloists: International competition winners and award-recipients perform concerto movements, including a 10-year-old international champion violinist and Juilliard Pre-College student. Each soloist brings extraordinary credentials and proven musical excellence.
National Orchestra Performance: Young musicians perform alongside the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Aotearoa's premier national ensemble. This rare opportunity provides career-launching experience and professional mentorship for emerging artists.
Classical Masterpieces: The concert features beloved works including Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, and Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 'From the New World.' New Zealand composer Cameron Monteath's 'La Veille' receives its premiere alongside these classics.
Conducted by Hamish McKeich: NZSO Principal Conductor-in-Residence Hamish McKeich leads this inspiring programme, bringing artistic vision and professional guidance to the young performers and orchestral musicians.
Eighteen Orchestral Instrumentalists: Beyond the six soloists, 18 exceptional young musicians perform as part of the orchestra, providing additional emerging artists with professional performance experience and exposure.
Free Livestream Access: The concert is livestreamed free on NZSO+ for audiences unable to attend in person, making this celebration of New Zealand's musical future accessible nationwide and internationally.
Sentiment Analysis
Exceptional young talent performing at professional level with the national orchestra
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Inspiring platform for emerging musicians to launch their classical music careers
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Mix of world-renowned classical masterpieces and new commissions celebrates musical diversity
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Free livestream access on NZSO+ makes the performance accessible to audiences nationwide
Limited number of soloist slots available; highly competitive application process
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Ticket pricing and additional fees may be a barrier for some attendees
Know Before You Go
The NZSO Emerging Artists concert takes place at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, one of New Zealand's premier performance venues with excellent acoustics and accessibility. Attendees should note that standard venue policies apply regarding entry procedures and seated capacity. Tickets can be purchased by calling 0800 479 674; additional fees may apply depending on the booking method. Age restrictions are not specified, though the classical nature of the programme typically accommodates family audiences. Please contact the NZSO Education team at education@nzso.co.nz for specific questions regarding venue policies, accessibility accommodations, or programme details.
Hot Tip
Arrive early to secure premium seating and soak in the pre-concert atmosphere at the Michael Fowler Centre. The venue fills quickly for NZSO performances, particularly for this highly anticipated Emerging Artists showcase. Consider watching the free NZSO+ livestream if the in-person concert is fully booked, giving you access to the same high-quality performance from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Location
Meeting Point
Michael Fowler Centre Wellington NZ NZ
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