2025 Whakatipu Music Festival

AND THAT’S A WRAP! Thank you for the music.

A whole week of activities! Six incredible and diverse concerts, private performances at lifestyle homes and at STARKWHITE gallery, workshops for students at all walks of life, and performances from incredible local performers! Our young artists gained incredible mentorship and support from our industry professionals ahead of their performances – including seminars on living sustainable as a touring artist and What I Wish I Knew at 25.

What an impactful week! The response from our training ground crew was heart-warming. Young professionals gained valuable industry experience working hard behind the scenes to pull this show off – and the result? An audience and staff amazed at the talent of Aotearoa’s musicians.

Thank you to all who supported us, who came along and bought a ticket this Easter.

We had some wonderful reviews and coverage, especially thanks to the Mountain Scene and ODT. Tracey Roxburgh spoke to Anne Rodda our Festival Director following the Rejoice concert.

“The whole premise of this festival is about uplifting the next generation and about creating space for them to work next to, and alongside, the professionals, and so here you have it — the professionals, the young artists and community artists making a joyful noise together.”

Two interviews with Ioana Cristina Goicea and Reuben Brown were published in the subscribers section, Finding Joy in a Challenge and Feeding Mind and Soul.

Young artist Esther Oh is studying violin and conducting at the University of Auckland and spoke with Jesse Mulligan from RNZ on “The future of music”.

The Listener’s Richard Betts published a wonderful interview and portrait on young artist Reuben Brown who is currently assistant-conductor in residence working most recently with Auckland Philharmonia.

You might have seen this wonderful article in the Sunday Star Times by John Pearson on what our festival is all about. He interviewed Anne Rodda and countertenor Austin Haynes who shared several te reo Māori opera, including his own translation.

If you’re curious to know a bit more about the choir educator Dr. Karen Grylls, our friends at Te Atamira shared this Q&A with Karen ahead of our week of rehearsals there.

Thank you once again to all our sponsors for a great week.

Our festival artists were: Stephen De Pledge (Auckland), Bernadette Harvey (Australia), Julian Smiles (Australia), Dr. Karen Grylls (Choirs Aotearoa) and Ioana Cristina Goicea (Romania).

Our incredibly talented young artists were: Austin Haynes (countertenor), Damon Herlihy-O’Brien (cello), Esther Oh (violin & conductor), Euan Safey (conductor), Felicity Tomkins (soprano), Marlon Sullivan (clarinet), Otis Prescott-Mason (piano), Reuben Brown (conductor), Sarah Lee (violin), Tal Amoore (viola), Yixuan (William) Sun (piano) and Yuxin Chen (viola).

Thank you to the Training Ground mentors who helped support a group of local Tāhuna/Queenstown apprentices to deliver the entire festival. Fiona Woodham (Southern PR), Adrian Hollay (RNZ Concert), Benn Lapper (TomTom Productions), Samantha Stout (Tregold Weddings), Janey Labes (events/hospitality organizer) and Sadhbh Ní Chathasaigh (photography).

Lastly, a thank you to our donors: Adam Foundation, Dick and Diana Hubbard, Jim Hannan, Russell & Janet Jones. And thank you to our sponsors below!

Michael Hill Fine Jewellers, Craigs Investment Partners, Lewis Eady Steinway NZ, Justin & Ben of Sothebys International Realty, Nockie’s Palette, RNZ Concert, Otago Daily Times, Hotel St. Moritz, Canyon Brewing, Touchdown Car Rentals, Aosta, Starkwhite, McKibbon’s of Royalburn, Te Atamira, Turn Up The Music, Kinga Krupa, Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust South, QLDC and Aotearoa Gaming Trust.

We will be back in 2027 new and improved!