Sunday 26 October at 2.30pm
HALLOWEEN’S HAUNTING HARMONIES
Conductor
Donald Armstrong
Donald Armstrong is very proud to be the Resident Conductor of the Kapiti Concert
Orchestra. He is the Associate Concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and
has spent many years performing under top level conductors. He feels that the Kāpiti Coast is
his second home as he has owned a holiday home here for some time.
He performs regularly in New Zealand as a chamber musician and conductor and has taught
as an artist teacher at the New Zealand School of Music. His chamber group, the “Amici
Ensemble” is currently in its 37 th year of concerts. Donald is co-artistic director of the
Martinborough Music Festival.
Donald is interested in preserving and advancing New Zealand’s musical heritage. He is an
avid supporter and teacher for the work of Arohanui Strings+ in the Wellington region,
creating social change through music. As a violinist, teacher, conductor and mentor he
encourages instrumentalists young and old while continuing his quest for the wild, wacky and
wonderful in music.
Soloists
Yuka Eguchi – Violin
Since joining the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2015, Yuka has been enjoying creating music together with her colleagues, and especially treasures the experience of playing alongside Donald Armstrong. Before making her home in New Zealand, Yuka was Solo Concertmaster of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Yuka studied with Dr. Suzuki, Josef Gingold(at Indiana University), F.Gulli and Y.Yaron. As a high school student she won the 55th Japan Music Competition. After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree and a Performers Diploma from Indiana University, she won a prize in Washington International Violin Competition and 3rd prize in Paganini International Competition.
Damien Eckersley, Double Bass
Damien joined the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as Associate Principal Double Bass in 2020, following a thirteen-year tenure as a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Damien serves on the faculty at the Australian National Academy of Music, and has performed as principal bass with orchestras in Australia and all over the world. These include the Tasmanian, Melbourne, and Queensland Symphony Orchestras, the Australian World Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Graz Philharmonic, the Tönkunstler Orchester and Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa.
Damien has also performed with the Sydney Symphony, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Opera Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the WDR Symphony Orchestra Köln.
As a soloist, Damien has given performances with orchestras and in recitals across Australia, Austria, Germany, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. He has also appeared in chamber music festivals throughout the world, both as a player and director.
Damien is passionate about education and combines his studio teaching with coaching young musicians in chamber music and orchestral technique, as well as giving masterclasses throughout Australia and Asia.
Programme
Mussorgsky – Night on Bare Mountain
Charles Gounod – Funeral March of a Marionette
Bernard Hermann – Psycho: “Prelude” and “Murder”
J.S. Bach – Toccata in D minor
Bottesini – Gran Duo Concertante
Saint-Saens – Danse Macabre, Op. 40
Monster Mash
Addams Family Theme
John Williams – Theme from Jaws
Richard Kram – Halloween Waltz
John Williams – Harry Potter: Hedwigs theme
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Phantom of the Opera excerpt