The Star: September 12, 2019

What training does someone
have to go through to become a
conductor?
For me, a lot of it was selftaught
just watching other
conductors at work. I had an
occasion to attend a summer
workshop with a leading English
conductor, this is going back
probably 15 years ago, and to
have him to confirm with me
that I was doing the right thing
felt very affirming. There are
university courses where people
could study conducting but I felt
I was too old to go back to school.
What do you make of the
state of music today, the kind
of music that teenagers are
listening to?
I find if a song has got a tune to
it and I can hear the words then
I can identify with it, I think of
songs like you raise me up that
was a popular song not so long
ago, that’s a song that has a lot
of value to it and will for years
to come. I’m not a hip-hop fan
because there is so little tune to
it and I can never hear the words
and never make sense of them
and sometimes the language they
use leaves me a bit cold. I don’t
think I could ever conduct a hiphop
artist. However, I think they
do have a certain artistic flair
that does appeal to some people
but they would never be part of
a choir.
What was the worst thing
to happen to you during a live
performance?
Not so much on the conducting
side, but I was in a number of
stage musicals and the worst
thing that happened there was I
forgot my words. So I winged it
and I made the words up, I don’t
think the audience noticed but
the cast definitely did.
Do you ever get nervous
before shows?
Yes, I must admit the adrenalin
still pumps away and I just say:
‘Calm down,’ but it keeps me on
my toes, it means that I don’t
get complacent about what I’m
doing.
Have you ever told someone
they had no future in singing?
No, but I have come very close
to it. Fortunately, there have only
been two occasions where I have
thought: ‘Oh what is this person
doing here.’ Fortunately they
have got the message and just
quietly left.
How would you describe your
conducting style?
Fairly restrained. I was once
told don’t let your conducting get
in the way of the music. Some
conductors think they are the
performance and that is not my
style at all I’m there to lead and
direct but no get in the way of the
music.
Where did you grow up?
I was brought up in Hawkes
Bay I went to primary school
in Hastings and for secondary
school I went to Napier Boys’
High. I moved to Christchurch
around 30 years ago.
What did you get in trouble
for at school?
Not doing my maths
homework. I would get a really
sore tail after it when getting the
cane, it happened only twice in
OUR PEOPLE 23
performers for more than 30 years
IN CONTROL:
Murray Lennox
conducts the All
Souls Church
choir.
Thursday September 12 2019 The Star
FINAL PERFORMANCE
DETAILS
Sunday, 2pm
Murray Lennox will
conduct his last major
work when the All Souls
Parish Choir perfrom
Requiem 9/11. On this
occasion, the choir will
be accompanied by Paul
Brown at the organ, and
with guest artists, Apollo
Strings. Matthew Harris
will sing the baritone solos
and the treble passages
will be sung by a group of
choristers from Medbury
Preparatory School.
Tickets can be purchased
at the door and cost $10.
All Souls Anglican Church,
30 Church Lane, Merivale
my five years in high school. Our
maths teacher was a nasty piece
of work, I won’t name him but he
was a bad lot, very sadistic. He
would throw books around the
classroom and he would shout.
How are you feeling going
into your final performance?
I suppose there is a touch of
sadness but at the same time,
how can I put it, in a sense, there
is an essence of relief knowing
that I think I have done my job
well and I can end with a sense of
achievement.
Have you thought about fostering a child?
We are looking for people in the Christchurch area who are
willing to open up their home to *Matt. He needs a home that
can provide him with support, care and unconditional love and
guidance in a clear, fair and consistent way. Matt is looking for
caregivers who enjoy outdoor activities and have a spacious yard.
Matt is an enthusiastic, funny and curious 16-year-old boy who is
looking for a long-term home. He has overcome many challenges
in his life and has grown immensely from these experiences. He
has a strong need for belonging which he has rarely had. He is
kind, helpful, and eager to get on well with other people. He also
loves outdoors, biking, Minecraft and animals.
Matt has an amazing sense of humour, although requires support
to express his feelings and needs. Matt is currently working on
building positive relationships and will require ongoing support.
We welcome carers who have the time, energy and the ability
to provide a loving home. These are the most important things
we look for in our foster carers. We will provide ongoing and
intensive clinical and financial assistance as well as training to all
our carers to ensure they always feel supported and enabled to
do their best.
Fostering a child in need is challenging but truly rewarding. As
a carer, you’ll provide consistent and responsive support and
attention to help them make sense of their world.
If you are interested in discussing possibilities for Matt,
please call Nicky on 03 365 0291 or 027 207 8212.
*name and image changed for privacy.
Simon O’Neill in Concert with
Woolston Brass – Fundraising Concerts
Proudly sponsored by John Rhind, international
superstar tenor Simon O'Neill joins Christchurch's
iconic Woolston Brass under the direction of Music
Director Tyme Marsters to perform tenor classics and
raise funds for the band’s future home.
New Zealand born, Simon O'Neill has established
himself as one of the finest helden-tenors on the
international stage. He has frequently performed with
the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, Berlin, Hamburg and Bayerische
Staatsopern, Teatro alla Scala and the Bayreuth,
Salzburg, Edinburgh and BBC Proms Festivals,
appearing with a number of illustrious conductors.
The Woolston Brass Band has been in existence for
128 years and is the most successful and recognised
band in New Zealand. Woolston Brass consists of over
thirty musicians drawn from a variety of professions
and ages brought together by a creative talent for
making music. The band has remained true to the
ideal expressed in its Maori motto, Tohea kia kaha
advertorial
(Persevere, so there is Strength).
The band's existing hall on Dampier Street has
been used since 1961 and is no longer fit for purpose,
damaged from the earthquakes and is earmarked for
demolition. Significant fundraising is now sought to
rebuild this rehearsal facility on Dampier Street that
will host the award-winning Woolston Brass and their
Academy.
Simon O’Neill is proudly donating his voice to help
Woolston Brass raise funds for the new band hall. The
fundraising concerts being held Friday 8 November
at the Christchurch James Hay Theatre and Sunday 10
November at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre will
feature tenor classics such as traditional Irish ballad
Danny Boy (Londonderry Air), Caruso written by
Italian composer Dalla, the famous Swedish Folk Song
(How Great Thou Art) and the iconic aria Largo Al
Factotum from Rossini’s opera The Barber of Seville.
Tickets available from Ticketek (Christchurch
Concert) and TicketDirect (Ashburton Concert).
SHIRTS ½
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All brands*, all styles, all fabrics, all colours, all sizes
the MENSWEAR
@ SYDENHAM
*Only exceptions - Aertex, Country Look, Vonnella
387 Colombo Street Free Parking behind Butler Auto Mart
Monday-Friday 10am- 4pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday closed
“The Wagnerian tenor of his generation”
PRESENTS
in Concert with
Woolston Brass
Music Director Tyme Marsters
Friday 8 November, 7.30pm
James Hay Theatre Tickets available at Ticketek
Sunday 10 November, 2.00pm
Ashburton Trust Event Centre Tickets available at TicketDirect