A fresh Queenstown day began with a taonga pūoro talk from Tararua members, Ariana Tikao and Alistair Fraser. 

Coming off the back of their performance the previous night, the talk provided an incredible insight into their unique musicality. Ariana and Alistair discussed their own journey with taonga pūoro and how improvisation skills from Tararua group members Ruby Solly and Phil Boniface are exceptionally valuable when working with taonga pūoro. Demonstrating how each instrument is used, they explained the creation and origins of the instruments.

Community talents took to the stage for the afternoon, with performances from Turn Up The Music Concert Band, singer-songwriters Billie Carrie and Matilda Metcalfe, talented local vocalists and Wakatipu High School’s production Footloose. An amazing showcase of the talent that Queenstown and the wider Central Otago region is home to. 

Starkwhite, hosted public talk Magic at the Edges, with gallery director Kelly Carmichael and composer Lucy Mulgan. A wonderful discussion of the creation of art, both in the physical form and in the music world. 

As the sun began to disappear, our young artists graced the stage with their exquisite recitals. Six beautifully crafted recitals from Shuan Liu (pianist), April Ju (violinist), Otis Precott-Mason (pianist), Clare Hood (soprano), Stefenie Pickton (clarinettist) and Peter Gjelsten (violinist). 

Closing out the evening, the festival artists took the stage. Combinations of flute, cello, violin, piano and voice, the artists took the audience on a trip around the world. Including the premiere of Bougainvillea, performed by flautist Bridget Douglas. The piece composed by Gillian Whitehead was part of a project organised by Lloyd Jones to raise funds to build a library in Bougainville.

Check out some of the shots from the evening below.