Being an instrumentalist means working every day under pressure to obtain new levels of skill, clarinettist Anna McGregor says.
''I love the fact that a musician can never be 'done'. We have to come to terms with constant dissatisfaction and learn to enjoy the journey towards our musical goals.''
McGregor grew up in Christchurch and studied at the Christchurch School of Music.
''When the time came to chose a university degree I just knew I couldn't live without studying music.''
That journey led her to move to Sweden to study a master's degree at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. There, she played with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Swedish Radio Orchestra before moving to Karlstad where she won a permanent position as associate principal clarinet at Wermland Opera.
''There are so many similarities between New Zealand and Scandinavia that I hardly notice I'm overseas sometimes.''
The main difference is that Sweden has about 20 professional orchestras for a population of 10million so there are far more job opportunities.
''The downside is that the Swedish winter lasts for half a year and the trip back to New Zealand takes more than a day.''
It is here the pair's paths crossed as McGregor freelanced with Dala Sinfoniettan.
About the same time the pair joined the Dalecarlia Clarinet Quintet which toured New Zealand with Chamber New Zealand.
''It was the first time anybody had heard us play since we left New Zealand, so it was a fantastic way to return home.''
The tour was a highlight for McGregor who said the trip ended with a recording session at which the quintet produced its album Fjarran with music by Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie, and Ross Harris for clarinet and string quartet, which went on to win best classical album at the New Zealand Music Awards.
McGregor and Berkeljon then decided to create their own group, the Klara Kollektiv last year.
''This time we wanted to perform as a violin-clarinet-piano trio and in the future we want to to continue playing chamber music in various constellations so we chose 'Kollektiv' as an umbrella term.''
The ''Klara'' part of the group's name came from the longest river in Scandinavia which flows past McGregor's apartment in Karlstad.
''The name means clear, but also complete, and the alliteration in Swedish sounded nice.''
They brought in Finish pianist Taru Kurki whom they also met in Fuland where she holds the position of head of piano department at the Falun Music Conservatory.
Kurki plays as both a soloist and chamber musician and has performed throughout Northern Europe and the Baltic.
She was a semifinalist at the Spadafora International Piano Competition, in Rome, in 2007 and at the Nordic Piano Competition in Malmo, Sweden, in 2006. She has twice been chosen by the Royal Swedish Music Academy as the winner of their scholarship for outstanding young musicians.
Each member of the group has their strengths and they work together well as a result, McGregor says.
Kurki was the flexible one and due to her teaching, accustomed to adjusting and delivering under pressure, while Berkeljon was the heart of the ensemble with the ''passion and intensity on stage that demands attention''.
''She sees herself as the mother duck and makes sure the ensemble gets from A to B.''
While McGregor says she is the driving force when it comes to planning repertoire, composer collaborations and recording projects.
They all juggle their commitments to the group with their full-time jobs.
''A tour like this motivates us to prioritise our work as an ensemble. We simply had to make time to travel and rehearse. All of our holidays this year have been used for the trio.''
The goal of the group was to again tour with Chamber Music New Zealand.
''I feel it is extremely important to maintain contact with the New Zealand music community.''
On their tour in New Zealand they will also teach masterclasses and work with Ritchie.
''It feels great to contribute and be part of something bigger than ourselves.''
McGregor and Berkeljon enjoyed working with Ritchie during their 2014 tour and playing his music so they ''jumped at the opportunity'' when he agreed to compose some pieces specifically for the group.
Ritchie, who had also written work for Berkeljon before, enjoyed the experience.
''They are great players.''
He had met the pair again in 2016 when he travelled to Sweden on a composer residency and they put together a ''composer portrait'' concert of his work for him at Wermland Opera.
His time on the island of Gotland, while on the residency, inspired the work the trio will play on this tour.
''It's inspired by the picture stones, the amazing runes with symbols written on them that tell the story of life from birth to death.''
Picture Stone, which will have its world premier on this tour, is ''almost like tracing through life from birth to death'', Ritchie says.
The ensemble will also perform the New Zealand premiere his Three Scenes for solo clarinet, and, his Violin Sonata No3.
For the tour their priority was to choose the highest quality repertoire possible starting with two substantial 20th century works by Bartok and Khachaturian and pairing them with romantic sonatas by Franck and Brahms.
''We feel it is important for audiences to hear the music of their own country in conjunction with the classics.''
The ensemble will be playing a combination of trio, duo and solo pieces
''We have the most fun playing together as a group - the trios by Bartok, Khachaturian and Ritchie are a blast.''
As a tribute to Kurki's Finnish heritage, the group will finish with some short pieces by Sibelius.
They have also included an existing work by New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn.
''Because it's simply a beautiful piece.
''As Kiwi instrumentalists we feel a responsibility to promote New Zealand music. There are so many excellent composers in this country and we want their music to be heard.''
To see
August 6, Klara Kollektiv members Anna McGregor (3.30pm) and Manu Berkeljon (4.30pm) will give masterclasses at Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Invercargill Civic Theatre, August 7: Prelude Series Lecture with Anthony Ritchie at 6.45pm, Klara Kollective at 7.30pm.
Lake Wanaka Centre, Wanaka, on August 9, at 7.30pm: Klara Kollective.
