The University of Auckland will mark the close of Autumn Graduation Week 2011 with the ever-popular Graduation Gala Concerto Competition.

The University of Auckland will mark the close of Autumn Graduation Week 2011 with the ever-popular Graduation Gala Concerto Competition.

This year, three young women – two South Korean pianists and a flautist from China –will take to the Auckland Town Hall stage, competing for the grand prize of $5,000. The finalists will each perform a full concerto accompanied by The University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra, which will be conducted by internationally acclaimed musician and School of Music Associate Professor Uwe Grodd.

This year’s event will feature an intermission performance of choral works by The University of Auckland massed choir, including the University’s Chamber Choir who will depart at the end of May on an international tour

Flautist Annie Hong (Newmarket resident) will perform Flute Concerto by Carl Nielsen. Annie is a 27-year-old Bachelor of Music (Honours) student specialising in flute performance. She studied music at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China, before moving to New Zealand in 2007 to continue her studies under the tutelage of Associate Professor Grodd.

Twenty-one-year-old pianist Somi Kim (Albany, North Shore resident) will perform Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Born in South Korea, Somi began her piano studies at the age of eight, shortly after she moved to New Zealand in 1997. Somi is the 2011 recipient of The University of Auckland’s Bernhardt and Anne Harrison Scholarship for piano. She is currently studying for her Bachelor of Music (Honours) specialising in piano performance and studying with School of Music Senior Lecturer Rae de Lisle.

South Korean-born Tina (Inah) Kim (Remuera resident) will take to the stage with Piano Concerto No. 3 in C by Sergey Prokofiev. The 18-year-old began playing the piano at the age of five. She has been studying with Rae de Lisle for the past eight years and is now in her second year of a Bachelor of Music, majoring in performance.

Professor Robert Constable, Head of the School of Music, says the annual Graduation Gala Concerto Competition is an opportunity to showcase the excellent talent at the School and to celebrate the achievements of the University’s autumn graduates.

“Our music students put in a huge effort towards their studies and, while this applies to all music students, it is wonderful to see three of them succeed in this way. Music performance takes much dedication and discipline but it is rewards like this which make it all worthwhile. And it is good to be able to bring the fruits of their labours to the public in this annual graduation event,” says Professor Constable.

The judging panel will comprise Professor Constable (Chair), Professor Terence Dennis (Head of Classical Performance at the University of Otago) and Bridget Miles (Associate Principal Clarinet, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra).

The University of Auckland Graduation Gala Concerto Competition will be held on 5 May at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber (Queen Street) at 7.30pm. Admission is free; patrons are strongly advised to arrive early to be assured of admission.