Namely, a cultural side illustrated by this classical music event, where "instead of just professional musicians coming in and playing to the community, it’s creating space for the community to sit with us and to make music together".
"The weather forecast ain’t great so we’re providing some really good-quality entertainment at the Memorial Centre."
The festival — sponsored again by the family of Arrowtown-based music philanthropist Sir Michael Hill — includes six concerts at this venue between tomorrow night and Monday afternoon as well as piano, singing and stringed instrument workshops in which five top-notch artists will mentor 12 up-and-coming Kiwi artists.
Those artists will also be performing in the concerts.
Rodda says there’s quite an accent on choral music "because there’s so much good choir singing here".
Monday afternoon’s concert features a community choir project, ‘Rejoice!’, which locals have been invited to join in.
She notes one of the three classical bangers, The Hallelujah Chorus, is part of the Easter version of Handel’s Messiah.
She says those who attend concerts "realise classical music is much more approachable than people recognise".
"It’s familiar-sounding because it’s in sound tracks, it’s in adverts.
"It’s also just quality — there’s a reason it’s lasted for 300 years."
Rodda says ticket numbers are looking good, but she adds: "Queenstown is too last-minute for my taste.
"Everybody leaves it till the last minute — it means you have to just hold your nerve and keep doing stuff."
- Tickets via michaelhillviolincompetition.co.nz/whakatipu-music-festival
