2024 National Concerto Competition finalists (l to r): Peter Gjelsten, Hazuki Katsukawa, Ben van Leuven Photo: Supplied
The grand final of the 56th National Concerto Competition takes place this Saturday 9 March in Christchurch.
This year's finalists - violinists Hazuki Katsukawa and Peter Gjelsten and clarinettist Ben van Leuven - will perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and conductor Benjamin Northey.
RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump caught up with the three young musicians to find out how preparations were going.
Ben van Leuven will play Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto, but it's the music of Sibelius that dominates the final this year, with both violinists choosing Violin Concerto in D minor.
Jean Sibelius: delighted that his Violin Concerto is so popular. Photo: Wikimedia
Are they worried that people will get sick of it?
"Well," says Peter Gjelsten, "I've played it for quite a while and I'm not sick of it yet!"
56th National Concerto Competition Final
Saturday 9 March, 7.00pm
Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, Christchurch Town Hall
RNZ is recording the final, which will be broadcast on RNZ Concert at a future date.
