Thomas Allely Photo: sar, s, SARAH MARSHALL, JIRIKI PHOTOGRAPHY
Tony Ryan Photo: supplied
The Christchurch-born principal tuba player with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Allely, is heading home to perform a Tuba Concerto.
It's been composed for him by his former high school music teacher, Tony Ryan, who'll also conduct him.
Tony composed the original version of the concerto for Thomas while he was still a school student in Christchurch, but says it's an almost complete re-write, recognising that the young musician is now a virtuoso.
It's third time lucky for the premiere of the concerto - titled A Tuba Comes to Town - with Covid-19 travel restrictions scuppering the two previous attempts.
Lynn Freeman talked to Thomas from Bisbane and to Tony in our Ōtautahi/Christchurch studio. She first asked Tony when he first saw promise in his young student.
A Tuba Comes to Town is on at The Piano in Ōtautahi/Christchurch next Sunday, 4 December, where Thomas will perform with the Resonance Ensemble.
