MUSIC

A TRIO of touring musicians will get to make use of some enviable acoustics when they perform in Gisborne next week.

Pianist Maria Mo, violinist Hilary Hayes and cellist Edward King will be at St Andrew’s Church to play their Viennese Tales programme, made up of Beethoven’s Piano Trio No 5 in D Opus 70 No 1 (Ghost); Brahms’ Piano Trio No 1 in B Opus 8 and Three Island Songs, by Kiwi composer John Psathas.

Though young in the world of classical music, the nine-date tour that brings the three musicians to Gisborne is not the first time they have been on the road.

As winners of the 2009 Pettman/ROSL ARTS International Scholarship for a New Zealand Chamber Ensemble, the Leonari Trio (as they are collectively known) in 2010 undertook a tour of the United Kingdom, where they played sold-out concerts in major venues from London to Edinburgh.

Formed in 2009 at the University of Waikato, the trio is tutored predominant-ly by the NZ Chamber Soloists, plays numerous concerts around the country and is a regular on Radio NZ Concert.

All three members have also had individual successes at major compe-titions such as the National Concerto Competition, the PACANZ Young Perfor-mer of the Year Award, the Kerikeri National Piano Competition and, of course, the Gisborne International Music Competition.

“As soon as Eddy and I started playing together the connection between us was obvious,” Mo says. “We would feed off each other’s energy and that led us to be able to do extra things beyond what we’d rehearsed, and create in the moment.

“When Hilary joined us we felt that the synergy was finally complete. With three, there was more balance creatively and we enjoy bringing our ideas forward to figure out an option that suits all of us.”

■ The Leonari Trio plays at St Andrew’s Church next Thursday, August 23 (7.30pm). Tickets at the door.