Great conductor Nigel Weeks has selected the program for 'The World's Most Beautiful Melodies' It is sure to be an audience favourite.

Programme:
Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Strauss
Orpheus in the Underworld - Offenbach
'Finale' from William Tell Overture - Rossini
Carmen Suite No. 1 - Bizet
Fantasia on Greensleeves - Vaugham Williams
Spartacus Ballet Suite: Andagio of Spartacus - Khatchaturian
Skater's Waltz - Strauss
Gabriel's oboe - Morricone
New World Symphony - Dvorak

Peter and the Wolf op. 67, is a composition written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936. It is a children's story (with both music and text by Prokofiev), spoken by a narrator and accompanied by the orchestra.

With its music and puppetry, this is a special treat for children, but of course is equally enjoyed by young and old alike.

Narrated by Pete Rainey.

The puppeteering will be performed by Waimea College students.

We are fortunate to have the wonderful Helene Pohl from the New Zealand String Quartet as our soloist performing the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor.

Also featuring on the programme :

• Overture on Russian Themes by Rimsky–Korsakov
• Symphony No.2 by Tchaikovsky

Our end of season concert comes from under the northern lights, with much loved music from the following:

Neilson: Helios Overture
Sibelius: Karelia Suite
Sibelius: Valse Triste
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A min, Op 16
Returning to play with us is Louis Lucas–Perry from Nelson, who is currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music.

Almost a ‘Night at the Proms’, with a selection of light music from around the globe with Guest Conductor Sarah Bisley:

Britten: Matinees Musicales

Eric Coates: The London Suite

Eric Coates: By the Sleepy Lagoon

Arthur Bliss: Suite from Things to come

Leroy Anderson: Sandpaper Ballet

Johann Strauss: Memories of Covent  Garden

Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld

Robert Farnon: the Westminster Waltz

A Feast of Spanish Music featuring the popular Rodrigo Guitar Concerto ‘Aranjuez’

This is to be performed by Jane Curry, returning to play with us again after a collaboration in 2013 between The New Zealand Guitar Quartet of which she is a founding member, and the NSO playing the NZ  premier performance of a Rodrigo guitar quartet. Jane is currently a lecturer in classical performance at the NZ School of Music and a passionate teacher of Classical guitar and Chamber Music.

Also on this programme  :

Rhapsody Espagnole  by Ravel

Rhapsody España by Chabrier

Carmen Suite No.1  by Bizet

Guest Conductor Donald Maurice was the last Principal and first Director of the Nelson School of Music during the years 1980-'83. He is currently Professor at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington. He has performed for over four decades as viola soloist, chamber musician and conductor, has given world premieres of many solo and chamber music compositions.