NZSSSO - New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra

	NZSSSO
	New Zealand Secondary Schools
	Symphony Orchestra

Conductor

David Gallaher

David Gallaher has been a music educator for over thirty years, the majority of those spent in the South Island. The last 19 years have been in Christchurch where David has been an Itinerant Brass Teacher with the Hagley Itinerant Teachers of Music Unit. During this time he has worked with students from Primary School through to University level in a wide range of musical genres. During his years in Christchurch, his conducting skills have been utilised by all the schools in which he has worked and by community Groups, notably the Woolston Brass Band. David was appointed Music Director of The National Band of New Zealand in 2002 and in 2005 led them on an acclaimed European Tour, during which the Band was awarded a Gold Medal with Distinction. Throughout his conducting career the development of New Zealand Compositions has always been at the forefront of repertoire planning. He has encouraged and requested commissions of New Zealand Works from many of our leading composers. So it is pleasing to him that our Symphony in this programme is a New Zealand Work, by Anthony Ritchie.

Oswin Family

As part of this year’s programme, we have invited one of our long serving supportive musical families to feature as soloists. Kate Oswin (violin) has lead the NZSSSO for 4 years and Matthew (harpsichord) participated and as a violinist lead the orchestra in 2005 and both are now studying music in Wellington. Kate was a member of the winning group in the 2009 Chamber Music NZ schools competition. Matthew was a member of NZ Secondary Schools Choir who won the choir of the world competition in 2006.
They are joined in the Brandenburg Concerto by Natasha Manowitz (flute) from Dunedin. Natasha has been studying violin in Dunedin but this year has moved to Auckland to study flute with Alisa Willis. As a young student Natasha studied Suzuki violin. has her ATCL on flute and was also a national finalist in the NZ Chamber Music competition. Kate, Matthew and Natasha are all proficient on several instruments and are also performing in tonight’s performance with the orchestra.
The Brandenburg will be performed by a small selection of string players from the orchestra and will be conducted by Richard Oswin. Richard is an extraordinary pianist and has worked and supported the NZSSSO as our guest pianist for several years. He is a passionate music-educator and a respected composer/arranger. He spends is working days in education as Deputy Principal of Elmwood School and has been associated with the school since 1986. He has been involved with the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival as accompanist since 1984 and has been co-Musical Director from 1996-99 and from 2004 to 2010.