New Zealand International Arts Festival

Concerts & Masterclasses

The Final Concert of the 2009 Lexus Song Quest was held in Auckland's Town Hall on Thursday 23 April 2009 at 7.30pm.

The six finalists each sung one item accompanied by piano and two accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Lloyd.

The winner of the Lexus Song Quest and two place-getters then went on the Lexus Song Quest Recital Tour to Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

International judge Siegfried Jerusalem conducted a free series of Lexus Song Quest Masterclasses following the 2009 Lexus Song Quest.

Recital Tour

As part of the Lexus Song Quest prizes, the first, second and third prize-winners accompanied Siegfried Jerusalem around the country immediately after the 2009 Lexus Song Quest Final Concert.

Siegfried Jerusalem lead the Lexus Masterclasses and the prize-winners gave joint recitals accompanied by Terence Dennis in Christchurch (Sunday 26 April), Dunedin (Tuesday 28 April) and Wellington (Thursday 30 April).

These recitals give the prize-winners a taste of professional touring and also give audiences around the country a chance to hear these promising young performers as they launch their careers.

Masterclasses

Lexus is committed to New Zealand singers and their teachers. As part of this long-standing commitment, a series of Lexus Masterclasses conducted by Siegfried Jerusalem followed the 2009 Lexus Song Quest.

Masterclass participants were selected by preliminary judges on performance merit from entrants in the 2009 Lexus Song Quest. Singing teachers, their students and the general public were invited to attend and observe free of charge.

Auckland Masterclass
1.00 - 4.00pm, Saturday 25 April 2009
Music Theatre, University of Auckland School of Music, 6 Symonds Street,Auckland

Christchurch Masterclass
1.00 - 4.00pm, Sunday 26 April 2009
Chapel, Music Centre of Christchurch, 140 Barbadoes Street, Christchurch

Dunedin Masterclass
2.00 - 5.00pm, Tuesday 28 April 2009
Marama Hall, University of Otago, Leith Street (beside Allen Hall), Dunedin

Wellington Masterclass
1.00 - 4.00pm, Thursday 30 April 2009
Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, Wakefield Street, Wellington