Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne ONZM

Associate Conductor: Peter Thomas

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra | Upcoming Concerts | 2010 Season
Past Programmes | Contact the ASO | Reviews

Welcome to the Auckland Symphony Orchestra Website

Auckland Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gary Daverne ONZM

Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Town Hall, conductor Gary Daverne

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra

The Auckland Symphony is Auckland's most popular orchestra.

The ASO is a community-based orchestra formed in 1975 by its musical director, Gary Daverne. The players are drawn from all parts of Auckland and from all walks of life.

The orchestra provides an opportunity to musicians who have chosen a career outside music, to enjoy weekly rehearsals of symphonic music, playing without payment and purely for the pleasure of making good music together.

The orchestra also supports local young soloists, giving them the opportunity to perform with a full symphony orchestra, in concert.

The orchestra’s main philosophy is that music should be fun and enjoyed by players and audiences alike - hence the regular, Free Family concerts that are offered in Auckland with out-of-town concerts in areas where a live performance by a Symphony Orchestra is a rare event.

Today, the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, with over eighty players, has developed an excellent following and reputation for its high quality performances of popular classics, film and show music, often playing to capacity and turn-away audiences.

Regular annual features of the orchestra are the two sell-out performances of Last Night of the Proms and the Free Christmas Sing Along with local Pacific Island youth choirs.

For further information re THE AUCKLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and possible playing opportunities with the orchestra, please contact the Secretary:

Mrs. Beverley Brockelbank. Telephone: 4182257

Upcoming Concerts

Concert Dates 2010

All concerts conducted by Gary Daverne and Peter Thomas

November 14th Sunday 2.30pm
FREE FAMILY CONCERT
Auckland Town Hall

November 21st Sunday 2.30pm
FREE FAMILY CONCERT
Bruce Mason Centre - Takapuna

December 3rd Friday 7.30
SING ALONG CAROLS AND CHRISTMAS MUSIC
with combined Pacific Island Church choirs
Auckland Town Hall
Admission FREE

'Last Night of the Proms 2010'
at the Bruce Mason Centre - Takapuna - Auckland

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne with the Auckland
Symphony Chorus conducted by Peter Thomas
2010 Last Night of the Proms

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne with the Doran Gregory Irish Dancers
2010 Last Night of the Proms

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne with Pipe Major Kerry Balentine
and the City of Sails Pipe Band

Jason Bae

Jason Bae performing The Youth Concerto - Kabalevsky, AucklandTown Hall, 15 November 2009
with Gary Daverne conducting.

Tianyi_Lu

Tianyi Lu performing Anthony Ritchie ‘Flute Concerto’, AucklandTown Hall, 15 November 2009
with Associate Conductor Peter Thomas

Christmas Carols 2009

Christmas Concert, Auckland Symphony Orchestra
2009 Christmas Carols concert with Combined Pacific Island Church Choirs,
played to a capacity audience.

Santa wanted to take over, but Gary wasn't too keen!

Santa conducting the Auckland Symphony Orchestra

Gary slinks off stage as Santa 'takes over'

Coupe Mondiale 2009

Auckland Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gary Daverne ONZM, soloist Stephanie Poole

Stephanie Poole performing with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra at the 2009 Coupe Mondiale
World Accordion Championships, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna.

Review

'Last Night of the Proms 2009'

Bruce Mason Centre - Takapuna
20/21st June 2009

I did not go to The Last Night of the Proms with any thought of writing a review, so I took no notes but just threw myself into the whole occasion, together with the rest of the boisterous sell-out audience - with the result that my mind is a blur, having been battered into submission by the barrage of music and humour, once again concocted by Musical Director, Gary Daverne for his Auckland Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore 100 Voice Chorale and Friends.

Frankly, everyone seems to be 'doing' Last Night of the Proms these days, but none like the ASO. Whilst there was the usual sprinkling of patriotic numbers such as 'I Vow to the My Country', 'There'll Always Be An England' and 'Flower of Scotland', it was like no other Last Night that I've ever been to. Indeed until the final quarter-hour or so one could be forgiven for thinking that one was at a cross between the Royal Command Performance and the Crazy Gang.

The Orchestra was, of course, it fine fettle and Gary at his most effervescent, while the Choir, shadow conducted by Peter Thomas, entered wholeheartedly into the mischievous spirit of things. To attempt a musical critique, particularly as a non-musician in my own case, would be to miss much of point of the afternoon.

The audience, many bedecked in flags, tinsel wigs, fancy dress and painted faces, and armed with hooters and streamers, know what to expect on these occasions, this the ninth consecutive year. They were duly treated to a succession of splendid and, in some cases, unlikely cameo features.

The evergreen Max Cryer was as immaculate and humourous as ever with his 'Little List' from the Mikado, accordionist Tracy Collins kept the pace going with some Irish sing along numbers and her impish, virtuoso playing, while pianist, Deryn Trainer gave a fine rendition of 'The Eve of Destruction' from 'War of the Worlds' and an Elton John selection.

Surely a Proms' audience have never been confronted (or do I mean affronted?) by such an outrageous 'Sweet Transvestite', Keith Adams, brilliantly portraying the hit number from the musical, 'The Rocky Horror Show'. Soprano, Louise Malloy eventually brought us back to sanity, leading the audience in the traditional 'Rule Britannia'.

Gary Daverne is a master at putting an entirely fresh show together each year - everything from Gilbert & Sullivan and 'Lord of the Dance' with the dazzling Irish Dancers to 'Starlight Express' and 'The Dambusters March' - not forgetting 'Highland Cathedral' and 'Scotland the Brave' by the City of Sails Pipe Band. Next time Gary, warn the audience that you are going to play 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and we'll all bring our scarves!

It was a wonderful afternoon's entertainment from beginning to end, but my lasting impression will be of the final ten minutes when the balloons descended from the ceiling, the hooters, streamers and poppers were let off at full force, the audience were on their feet, and the whole theatre was one huge party - what a crescendo of colour, sound and sheer exuberance!

BOB DAVIS
June 2009

City Of Sails Pipe Band in rehearsal with the Auckland Symphony for ‘Last Night of the Proms’.

Gary with Tracey Collins, the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and the 100 Voice North Shore Chorale

Finale of Proms

Last Night of the Proms finale.

Gary Daverne CD Covers

China Tour 2007

In April, 2007, the AUCKLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with conductor, Gary Daverne, toured China, where they performed successful concerts to large, enthusiastic and appreciative audiences in the cities of Shanghai, Shi Jia Zhuang and Beijing.

The concerts in Beijing and Shanghai were televised and the Shanghai concert was screened for one hour, prime time television (Sunday evening 7 - 8pm), to an estimated viewing audience of 143 million. Politicians, high-ranking government officials and dignitaries attended all concerts.

The following is a report from CCTV after the orchestra's first concert in Beijing:

The Auckland Symphony believes "Music should be fun and enjoyed by players and audiences alike." It clearly demonstrated that philosophy at its Chinese debut at Beijing's Century Theater on Saturday afternoon. The concert raised money for students in the poverty-stricken areas of China.

Auckland Symphony enjoys a loyal following and fine reputation for its performances of popular classics and film music. Their repertoire features the theme from the blockbuster "Lord of the Ring," which was shot in New Zealand.

It's said music knows of no boundary. It's the perfect bridge to unite people around the world.