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Past Concerts

The Sounds of Movies
12 November 2022 @ 7 pm
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Robinson plays Mendelssohn - 
16th July 2022 @ 7pm.
Violin concerto in E minor featuring Andrew Robinson,  and the "Scottish" Symphony No. 3 in A Minor.
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Liberte - Beethoven, Rossini & Carmen. 10th July 2021 @ 7pm.

Celebrating our in person concert in style with the wonderful music of Rossini's Barber of Seville, Beethoven Symphony No. 5 and Carmen II suite. 
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Nova
ASB Theatre Marlborough
​4 April 2020, 7pm


Marlborough Civic Orchestra is proud to present Nova, a concert to celebrate things new and undiscovered. Accompanying internationally renowned concert pianist Michael Tsalka, the MCO will perform the world premiere of Sergey Evtushenko's Piano Concerto No.1.
Come along and enjoy a very special evening with the music of Sibelius (Finlandia - Dawn), Grieg (Peer Gynt Suite No. 1), Dvorak (New World Symphony) and Brahms (Tragic Overture). 
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Carnival - A Family Orchestra
Festival at the ASB Theatre
Marlborough
​22 June, 7pm


Come and hear the MCO performing many memorable pieces ranging
from Saint-Saen's "Carnival of the Animals", to recent Hollywood hit
"The Greatest Showman" along with Mendelssohn's "Wedding March", Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" as well as Blenheim's own Kodi Rasmussen's "Allegro Cavallo Nero". 
Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" will also feature in a line up of music sure to please the ear and put a smile on your face.
Special guest artist for the evening will be soprano Olivia Sheat returning to Blenheim to perform some beloved favourites.
Tickets are available now from ASB Theatre Marlborough. Visit:
​premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=CARNIVAL19&v=BAC
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Adagio - End of Year Concert a 
Charity Fundraiser Presented
by Members of the MCO and
Upbeat Development Orchestra


Join members of the Marlborough Civic Orchestra as they bring a selection of memorable classics for our end of year charity fund-raising concert in conjunction with Upbeat Development Orchestra.
To be held at 4pm on Saturday 8 December at the Chapel of valued sponsor, Cloudy Bay Funeral Services on Boyce Street, Blenheim.
Hear works from Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Barber, Hayden and more
in a concert that will bring some much appreciated calm and solace to this very busy time of year.
Featuring Elgee Leung as conductor and also as a soloist on cello along with talented young locals Sam Lee on violin and Kodi Rasmussen on trumpet this will be a memorable concert before our members take a much needed break over the Christmas / New year period.
Entry is by paper koha at the door - no pre sales or tickets. 
All proceeds will be given to local families in need.
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Enjoy the Best of British at the
​MCO's September Concert


The Marlborough Civic Orchestra, conducted by David Brooks with concertmaster Karla Norton, brings you a variety concert with fabulous music from Britain. Featuring guest artist Marsha Stringer on piano who will be performing JC Bach's keyboard concerto Op 13 No.2 and the beautiful theme music from Pride and Prejudice.

​The MCO are also presenting music from Phantom of the Opera, 007, Game of Thrones, Thunderbirds and Star Wars along with classical favourites by Vaughan-Williams, Elgar, Holst, Malcolm Arnold and Leroy Anderson. Something for everyone of all ages and tastes of music. Bring along the whole family for a great night out.
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​Purchase your tickets now from the Box Office at the ASB Theatre, Marlborough or purchase tickets online:
​www.asbtheatre.com/events/The-British-Empire-Strikes-Bach/
​
or premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=THEBRIT18
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Fundraiser Concert in Support of Marlborough's Young Musicians

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MCO Schools Concerts Hit the Right Note Once Again


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The Marlborough Civic Orchestra Schools Concert Day was held for the third year running and was a resounding success with around 1500 local primary school children visiting the theatre to experience a live orchestral concert, many for the first time, and find out a little about how an orchestra ticks. This year's theme was 'The Composer Plays the Bongos' - with a focus on percussion within the orchestral setting.

This year these free concerts, again generously supported by the Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust, included a fourth concert that was performed for around a further 400 locals from community groups.

With a 45 minute programme that included classics such as Holst's 'Jupiter' and Aaron Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man' along with contemporary hits like 'This is Me' from the Greatest Showman and 'Shut Up and Dance', the audience had every chance to sit back and soak in the atmosphere or get up and dance in their seats. The Star Wars finale, complete with a light sabre battle on stage between our conductor David Brooks and a special guest Stormtrooper, had the audience cheering and yelling for more.

With a memorable performance by local composer Kodi Rasmussen, who conducted his own composition 'Dwarven Chorus', the children discovered that not all orchestral composers are dead and gone - in fact many are still living and composing today. Other highlights included the two solo pieces by our guest percussionist, Aimee Moore, who performed the old favourite 'The Typewriter' and an accomplished rendition of 'The Flight of the Bumblebee' on xylophone. Special thanks must go to the Marlborough District Brass Band for their kindness in making their percussion section available for the day - without doubt the icing on the musical cake.

A special component of the day was the inclusion of the Upbeat Development Orchestra (UDO) members, who joined the MCO in performing on stage at the ASB Theatre Marlborough, some for their first time. We look forward to these members playing with the MCO for many more years.

CSO Training Weekend Another Great Success


The Marlborough Civic Orchestra once again hosted tutors from the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in their annual Queen's Birthday Training Weekend. From the Friday night through to Monday afternoon of the long weekend, participating MCO members and visitors from outside the region took part in sectional and tutti rehearsals, a chamber group evening, an evening meal with performances by CSO tutors Tony Ferner (flute), Cathy Irons violin), Tomas Hurnik (cello) and Thomas Eves (trumpet) and a final play out concert to conclude. The weekend was a resounding success with noticeable benefits for all involved along with many laughs, delicious shared meals and a greater sense of what it means to play as an ensemble group. For more information and a little video from the weekend go to the Marlborough Express's story:  www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/your-marlborough/104564033/music-masterclass-hits-the-right-note-in-marlborough

Chopin & Co. Concert at the
ASB Theatre
​with Michael Tsalka
7.30pm, Saturday 10 March, '18


Cavalcade​ presents the Marlborough Civic Orchestra with internationally acclaimed pianist Michael Tsalka performing Chopin's Piano Concerto No.2 in F Minor along with Cathy Irons and her Classical Jazz Quartet from Christchurch.

Michael Tsalka (Israel/Netherlands). Michael has won numerous prizes and awards in Europe, the U.S.A., the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. A versatile musician, he performs with equal virtuosity a wide repertoire from the early Baroque to modern day on the harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano, chamber organ and modern piano.

The Classical Jazz Quartet have been performing together as a collective group locally and nationally over the last few years. Featuring Cathy Irons on violin, Barry Brinson on piano (who create the core members of the group) they are joined by Michael Bell on upright bass and Tim Sellars on drums... a fruitful fusion of the classical and jazz musical worlds.

​Purchase your tickets now from the Box Office at the ASB Theatre, Marlborough or visit:
premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=CAVACLAS18
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Get ready for some serious noise with the MCO's Big Bang Concert  
7pm, Saturday 4 November, 2017


Billed as a Top of the South Orchestral Extravaganza, The Big Bang will see the combined talents of orchestral musicians from Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay take to the stage at the ASB Theatre Marlborough to play a variety of well known and familiar tunes.
Sometimes fiery, always beautiful hear Vivaldi, Rossini, Handel, Beethoven along with popular tv tunes from cinema and tv.

Playing on Saturday 4 November in Blenheim, the concert will be repeated the following day in Nelson at Nelson College for Boys.
 
As a special performance for the Blenheim concert only, guest cellists Lisa Cowie and Caitlin Morris will play with a string ensemble Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto - not to be missed!
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Cloudy Bay Funeral Services comes
on board as MCO sponsor and makes
​international headlines


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The Marlborough Civic Orchestra is proud to welcome Cloudy Bay Funeral Services as an important partner in the development of our orchestra.
David and Ann Buckley and Alan and Liz Walker from Cloudy Bay Funeral Services have come on board, offering their beautiful, newly built premises as the orchestra's permanent rehearsal venue. With a spacious, well lit, warm and modern auditorium and adjoining reception room, the orchestra as plenty of room for main rehearsals and smaller sectionals. The orchestra committee and members couldn't be happier about the move and look forward to a long and productive partnership.
The move to the new venue was announced in the local news and made headlines in The Guardian as well as featuring on Radio New Zealand National.
To read the articles online follow the links below.
Pictured: From left, Peata Panoho, Jenny Stubbs, David Buckley, David Mullon and Linda Lloyd. Photo Credit: David James / Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz/national/95035078/music-in-the-mourning-as-orchestra-makes-full-use-of-funeral-home
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www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/28/new-zealand-orchestra-uses-quiet-and-peaceful-funeral-home-to-practise
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Don't miss the MCO's August concert, Bella Musica - Melodies of the Mediterranean.
​August 19, 7pm.


Enjoy a musical celebration of classic Mediterranean melodies and Spanish dances to sweeping movie music (from The Godfather, Gladiator, and Cinema Paradiso), opera overtures (Verdi and Mozart), the best of Mancini and hits from the ever popular and stirring Les Misérables plus much more. With special guest appearances by vocalists Danica Manson and Spencer Kingi. 
This promises to be an outstanding evening of music to tap your feet to and sing along with - and maybe even get up and do a little dancing with Zorba the Greek! 
Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear Marlborough's own civic orchestra playing in the stunning ASB Theatre.
And save $5 on the ticket price with our early bird tickets before July 2.
Bookings at the ASB Theatre Ticket Office or online at the ASB Theatre www.asbtheatre.com/events/marlborough-civic-orchestra---bella-musica/     
​or at the TicketDirect Tasman website.
​www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/details/169000/bella-musica
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Develop your musical skills...
start playing with Upbeat, the MCO Development Orchestra.


As part of the Marlborough Civic Orchestra's goal to foster and develop music within the region, the Upbeat Development Orchestra has been established. It runs in conjunction with the Upbeat Theory Club, but participants of one do not necessarily have to take part in the other. Each are run as independent sessions one after the other on Friday afternoons (except for Tempo Concert nights).
Here you will learn all about playing in groups, listening to others and how an orchestra operates. This is aimed at all players from beginner to approximately grades 3 or 4 and will develop ensemble playing skills.
Upbeat Development Orchestra is designed as a pathway for instrumentalists to the Marlborough Civic Orchestra and beyond, ideal for young musicians who are keen to improve their skills and discover the thrill and enjoyment that comes from playing with larger groups.
Cost is just a one year membership to the MCO of $25 per person.
(One membership allows access to Upbeat Theory Club, Upbeat Development Orchestra and, if applicable, the Marlborough Civic Orchestra)
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Learning music theory just got a whole lot more fun


As part of the MCO's remit to engage with and promote music to the local community, the Upbeat Theory Club for children aged 8 - 12 has been launched from Friday 5 May, 2017.
For a $25 membership for the entire year, young people will have weekly lessons in music theory along with games, gaining listening skills and learning about the different instruments of the orchestra. See the flyer for more information and get in touch if you have a young person who'd benefit from this amazing initiative.
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MCO Orchestra Breakdown 2017
​Free Schools Concerts


Once again this year, the MCO is pleased to announce its very popular schools concerts where primary age children are introduced to the joy of live orchestral music. With generous support from the Marlborough District Council and the ASB Theatre Marlborough, these concerts are a mixture of learning, laughter and great music from well known classics to current movie themes. 
See the flyer for more information.
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MCO Queens Birthday
​Orchestra Weekend
​2 June - 5 June, 2017


A weekend of music making and professional tutoring to develop
orchestral skills as well as your own personal musical development.
​For orchestral musicians of all ages.
See the flyer for more information or go to our Contact page 
and drop us a line if you're interested in being part of this
​outstanding weekend of music with tutors from the CSO.
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  • Home
  • About
  • CALENDAR
  • PAST CONCERTS
  • GALLERY
  • Music for Functions
  • Upbeat Development Orchestra
  • SUPPORT THE MCO
  • MCO General Info
  • MCO MEMBERS PAGE
  • Contact