Giant orchestra tunes up

First violin Charlotte Rosenberg leads the orchestra in tuning up.

The Taupō School of Music’s Big Music Day – a day of rehearsals for dozens of students followed by a concert – is back again this week.

By Chris Marshall

The permanent fixture on Taupō’s music calendar, involving between 150 and 200 musicians from local schools, kura and home schoolers, is over 25 years old.

Students are assisted by adults from Taupō Brass, Taupō Concert Band, Great Lake Big Band, Great Lake Music Company and the Taupō Strings Orchestra to form a giant orchestra, rehearsing five pieces before a one-off public performance.

The students, from those starting out to those about to head to university, participate on strings, brass, woodwind, guitars, keyboards and recorders, to percussion and drums.

“It's just a fantastic day for everybody to get together, learn all these pieces and then perform them,” says TSOM principal Jo Paul.
The conductors are a really local affair this year, she says.

“We do have one returning conductor Matt West, who was a local, but is coming back, and we have first time conducting, the conductor of the Taupō Youth Orchestra, Richard Paull, as well as the conductor of the Taupō Youth Windband Monique Vossen.”
While there won’t be a full contingent of Royal New Zealand Navy Band like last year she says former Tauhara College student Aiden West, now an Able Musician with the RNZNB, will return to help in the trumpet section.
As well as learning to cope with different conducting styles and ensemble playing skills, such as counting rests, coming in on time and adjusting volume, the day also results in students looking to explore a wider range of music and instruments, says Paull, and perhaps also careers in music.

It is, for most, probably the largest orchestra they will ever play in.

The three conductors will take the orchestra through the five different pieces during the day, before a concert for family, friends and supporters.

Numbers attending last year meant standing room only, says Paull, who has had pieces arranged so every child can participate.

The goal was that those attending left with a bit more confidence, experience, and had enjoyed being part of such a large group, she says.

Guest performers at the final concert will this year again include the popular Keynotes Choir, Taupō Youth Strings and Taupō Youth Wind Band.

The 2026 Big Music Day is Thursday, September 24 at the Great Lake Centre with the approximately hour-long concert beginning at 4.30pm – koha entry.

Pieces this year cover from classical to movie themes as well as a more modern tune.