But Otago Boys High School pupil Juno Pyun said his jazz arrangement of the baroque Concerto for two Violins in D minor was designed to lighten the serious mood at the Dunedin Chamber Music Contest at Marama Hall yesterday.
"I tried to inject a little humour into it. Sadly, no-one laughed. It felt a little bit awkward there on stage for a while."
The arrangement was written for The Multi-instruMentals, comprising Joyce Tang (Bayfield High School), Rosalind Manowitz (Logan Park High School), Crystal Diong (Otago Girls High School) and Juno.
Juno also arranged Monti's Czardas in the same vein for the same instruments plus harp and accordion.
"It was a risk - I hope the judge got the joke. I think it was fun to present the music in a different package," he said.
Despite the "muted response" from the audience, Juno said the ensemble was pleased with the way they played.
The group was one of 60 ensembles competing for eight places nationwide in the national final in Christchurch in August.
Results. - Best group overall: Trio Martinu.
Highly commended groups: Balancing Act, Columba College and Otago Boys High School; Venice Ensemble, Columba College and John McGlashan College; Wrench, Logan Park High School; multi-instruMentals, Bayfield High School, OBHS, Logan Park High School, Otago Girls High School.
