Getting in some quality rehearsal time at the MFC. Photo: Wellington Youth Orchestra
When it comes to classical music venues in the capital city, they don't come any bigger than the Michael Fowler Centre.
This weekend, the Wellington Youth Orchestra has booked the MFC out for an epic concert which will see the band teaming up with Wellington's Youth Choir.
The youth orchestra will be enlarged for the occasion by the addition of its training ensemble, the Wellington Youth Sinfonia, so for the combined items there will be 180 musicians on stage.
Violist Solace Ward Photo: Supplied
On the bill, music by Verdi, Beethoven, Schubert, Anthony Ritchie and Jake Runestad’s Emmy Award-winning Earth Symphony for Choir and Orchestra.
RNZ Concert spoke to two of the leaders of the orchestra's string section ahead of the gig: principal cellist Tomos Christie, and principal viola Solace Ward, who will also be soloist in Anthony Ritchie's first viola concerto.
Originally from Palmerston North, Ward started off as a violinist, but switched to the viola because their orchestra didn't have any.
They haven't looked back and are now studying the instrument at the New Zealand School of Music with the aim of becoming a professional violist.
Ward's performance of Ritchie's concerto is reward for winning the 2025 Wellington Youth Orchestra Concerto competition.
Cellist Tomos Christie Photo: Supplied / Tomos Christie
Wellington-raised and based Christie is also studying at the NZSM.
He joined the Youth Orchestra in 2021 when he was still studying at Wellington College.
When not playing the cello, he likes to get out and about on his bicycle.
He plans to keep the two pursuits separate for now. The thought of riding into Wellington's notorious headwinds with a cello on his back sounds just a little two risky.
