Happiness, sadness, excitement, horror, surprise, even torment - a flood of emotions washed through the North East Valley Normal School library during the New Zealand String Quartet's first concert for gifted pupils in Dunedin yesterday.
Quartet members visited the gifted pupils' programme as part of their Music4Life programme. The musicians aim to take music out of the concert hall and give pupils the chance to participate.
Before each piece from the quartet, pupils were asked: How does this music make you feel?
What story does this piece tell? What pictures to you see in your mind when you hear this music?
Artwork by Kim Meek, inspired by the quartet's music, was also on display to help boost the pupils' imaginations.
Dunedin Gifted Kids Charitable Trust chairwoman Susan Scharpf said the community initiative was jointly developed by HSBC and the New Zealand String Quartet, and has been travelling the country each year since 2008.
Yesterday was the first time Music4Life had been brought to Dunedin, she said.
New Zealand String Quartet manager Elizabeth Kerr said the experience kept the children focused for an hour.
