Acclaimed Conductor And Trumpeter Joins NZSO For Summer Brass Tour

Acclaimed Australian conductor and trumpeter Yoram Levy joins the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra this week for its festive seven-date Summer Brass tour.

Summer Brass, from Friday (5 Dec), showcases the power and precision of the NZSO’s Brass and Percussion sections in a programme to stir the soul and ignite the holiday spirit.

With commanding energy and musical finesse, the NZSO ensemble presents a rich tapestry of sound—from the grandeur of Baroque masterpieces to the stirring drama of 20th-century fanfares and beloved Christmas classics.

Maestro Levy is Head of Brass and Trumpet Studies at the Australian Academy of Music, where he conducts its renowned brass ensemble. Principal Trumpet of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra until 2023, he’s regarded as one of Australia’s leading trumpeters and brass teachers.

His international reputation as a trumpeter has seen him work with leading orchestras and music legends, including Leonard Bernstein.

Summer Brass begins in Wellington (5 Dec), followed by performances in Paraparaumu (6 Dec), Whanganui (9 Dec), Napier (10 Dec), Rotorua (11 Dec), Hamilton (12 Dec) and Tauranga (13 Dec).

Audiences will be swept away as the NZSO performs Christopher Mowat’s vibrant arrangement of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Samuel Barber’s haunting Mutations from Bach, and Henri Tomasi’s theatrical Fanfares Liturgiques, a work that moves between solemnity and splendour with theatrical flair.

To celebrate the festive season, Summer Brass also includes beloved Christmas classics reimagined through the warm, golden tones of a brass ensemble. From jubilant carols to heartwarming melodies, the orchestra delivers holiday favourites like Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells Swing-a-Ling-Ding, and Joy to the World in all their seasonal glory.

Whether you love classical music or simply looking to kick off the summer with something special, Summer Brass offers a concert experience that invites everyone to join in. With its vibrant mix of Baroque elegance, contemporary drama, and festive favourites, the NZSO creates the perfect outing for families, friends, and music lovers.

Summer Brass

YORAM LEVY Conductor

JS BACH/CHRISTOPHER MOWAT Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

BARBER Mutations from Bach

TOMASI Fanfares Liturgiques

FELIX BERNARD/BRIAN BUERKLE Winter Wonderland

MEL TORMÉ/CHRISTOPHER MOWAT The Christmas Song

MORTEN LAURIDSEN/BRIAN BUERKLE O Magnum Mysterium

TRADITIONAL/ANTHONY DILORENZO Joy to the World

JAMES LORD PIERPONT/ANTHONY DILORENZO Jingle Bells Swing-a-Ling-Ding

L. ANDERSON/JOHN WASSON Sleigh Ride

WELLINGTON | TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA | Michael Fowler Centre | Friday, 5 Dec | 6.30pm

PARAPARAUMU | Te Raukura Ki Kāpiti | Saturday, 6 Dec | 7.30pm

WHANGANUI | Royal Whanganui Opera House | Tuesday, 9 Dec | 7.30pm

NAPIER | AHURIRI Municipal Theatre | Wednesday, 10 Dec | 7.30pm

ROTORUA | Sir Howard Morrison Centre | Thursday, 11 Dec | 7.30pm

HAMILTON | KIRIKIRIROA | Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber | Friday, 12 Dec | 7.30pm

TAURANGA | Holy Trinity Tauranga | Saturday, 13 Dec | 7.30pm

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