The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s second violinist is in Dunedin this week, where she studied at the University of Otago and was concertmaster for what is now the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.
For her, most of the nostalgia came from a rare opportunity to play alongside some of her former DSO colleagues for tonight’s joint NZSO/DSO concert at the Dunedin Town Hall, she said.
‘‘It’s very surreal — in a good way,’’ Gray said.
‘‘It’s lovely to be back here. I just love this place. It brings back such fond memories.’’
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Gray moved to Invercargill as a child and started learning violin when she was 9.
She went on to lead the Invercargill orchestra and youth orchestra, and performed widely as a soloist.
‘‘I must have shown a bit of promise or something, because then I went up to Dunedin to go to university.’’
After graduating from music at the University of Otago, she became the concertmaster at what was then the Dunedin Sinfonia for a couple of years in the early 1990s, before going on to play with the NZSO.
Despite the NZSO being internationally recognised, she was impressed by the quality of playing in the DSO.
‘‘I think they’re amazing because they work fulltime at another job, and then they come in and they’re playing a very hard piece like [Gustav] Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony.
‘‘And I know that back in my days, we never played Mahler. It requires a huge orchestra and team effort, and it’s not easy.’’
While she was enjoying catching up with old friends from the DSO, she was also enjoying sitting shoulder to shoulder with new musicians for a change.
‘‘It’s nice because we get to know them, they get to know us.
‘‘We’re there to enjoy the night when it happens, and each other, and learn from each other as well.’’
She was also delighted to play a part in the DSO’s 60th birthday celebrations.
‘‘It’s wonderful that they’ve survived all the financial stuff that’s been going on, and the orchestra is still here and still performing and making people happy.
‘‘That’s what it’s all about.’’
