Kiwi music legend Don McGlashan (The Mutton Birds, Blam Blam Blam, From Scratch, The Front Lawn) has added his name to the list of those performing a fundraiser for Sistema Aotearoa, the children’s music education programme based in Otara and run by Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) with funding for a pilot scheme from the Ministry for Culture & Heritage. 

McGlashan will share the stage with the Jade String Quartet, and joins a bill that already includes award-winning 14-year-old singer Khona Va'aga-Gray, soprano Morag Atchison and pianist Rosemary Barnes.

The concert, which takes place from 3pm on Saturday 10 March, also marks the rare and welcome appearance as a pianist of APO Music Director Eckehard Stier, who performs jazz standards with violinist Dr Joe Harrop, Programme Director of Sistema Aotearoa.

Emcee for the afternoon is the accomplished actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand, who also worked with Don McGlashan in the music/theatre group The Front Lawn.

Since Sistema Aotearoa launched in April 2011 the young pupils, aged between five and eight years, have played several concerts, including one to 600 people at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau. And while they’ve performed to family, friends and even government ministers, the fundraising concert will be in front of their most important guest yet: Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, the Governor-General of New Zealand. Indeed, the concert is held outside on the lawn of Sir Jerry’s official Auckland residence, Government House.

“I’d like to thank Their Excellencies Sir Jerry Mateparae and his wife Lady Janine for making Government House available to the children of Sistema Aotearoa,” says APO Chief Executive Barbara Glaser. “Through our season-opening Summer Matinee concerts, the APO has had a strong relationship with Government House for 20 years, and there is nowhere we would rather be for this event. I’d also like to thank all the artists, who have generously donated their time and talent to this wonderful cause. We take immense pride in Sistema Aotearoa, and with the help of people like Don McGlashan and Jennifer Ward-Lealand, we hope to secure additional instruments and ensure the ongoing success of the programme.”