NZSO Associate Concertmaster Donald Armstrong Photo: Supplied
Wilma Smith Photo: Supplied
Violinists Wilma Smith and Donald Armstrong have been friends since their students days in the National Youth Orchestra. They joined the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra around the same time, and spent nine years together on the front desk of the Orchestra's violin section.
"Our paths seemed to cross very easily," says Donald.
They now live on either side of the Tasman, but still make music together. At the end of September, Wilma and Donald are performing at the Martinborough Music Festival in a series of concerts across three days.
As well as performing, the pair are this year's Festival Co-Artistic Directors.
The featured artists are a mix of experienced and younger musicians, something that the Festival has always focused on.
Wilma says she finds it really fun, and there are benefits for both sides.
"For people like Donald and me, who've been around for a while and played a lot of music in our time... for us to play with these 20-somethings is really energising, it's invigorating."
"And for them, we're able to give them these opportunities because we're at the organisational end of things and we know the ropes."
"It's a great combination."
Martinborough Music Festival
22-24 September 2023
Martinborough Town Hall
