Concerts › The Art of the Encore

Programme Notes

If you’ve ever attended a concert and wished the encores would never end, this afternoon’s performance is the one for you. Miniature masterworks for violin and piano by the encore genius Fritz Kreisler rub shoulders with audience favourites, like Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List and Kroll’s rollicking Banjo and Fiddle. However, for those craving a little more substance, there will be a Handel violin sonata with organ accompaniment in the first half and Vaughan Williams’ magical The Lark Ascending in its original version with piano in the second half. An afternoon to remember for sure.

“The artists received a standing ovation. We all left happier for this afternoon of enchanting violin music. Yuka and Kemp are wonderfully accomplished musicians.” - (Middle C Review. St Andrew’s on the Terrace, Wellington)

“The performers had a great rapport. In summary, it was one of the best concerts ever offered by Cromwell Community Arts, and perhaps to the most appreciative audience.” - (Cromwell Arts)

Over the last five years, Kemp and Yuka have given numerous concerts together, delighting audiences with that extra-special chemistry that comes from being partners, both on and off the stage. Celebrated in their own right as soloists, they are dynamic together and are on a mission to spread the joys of the violin and keyboard repertoire. In 2022 they toured for Chamber Music New Zealand and gave concerts in Adelaide and Japan. In 2023 they spent two months touring Europe and making recordings in Japan, capping the year off by performing to a full house at Auckland Town Hall. Earlier this year they were back in Adelaide for an Adelaide Town Hall concert.

Yuka Eguchi has been Assistant Concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra since 2016, balancing her orchestral role with a busy chamber music schedule. As part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2022 programme, Yuka toured New Zealand with Dr Kemp English, presenting concerts that showcased both modern piano and fortepiano, followed by performances in Japan, collaborating with her colleagues in the Tokyo Trio. Before moving to New Zealand, she served as Solo Concertmaster for the Japan Philharmonic and Tokyo Mozart Players and was a guest concertmaster throughout Japan. A distinguished scholarship student at Indiana University, Yuka studied under the legendary Josef Gingold. As a high school student, she won the 55th Japan Music Competition and subsequently claimed major prizes in both the Washington and Paganini Violin Competitions. In addition to live performances, Yuka is an accomplished recording artist with many solo and collaborative albums to her credit.

Dr Kemp English is one of New Zealand’s leading concert performers. Much in demand as a solo organist, specialist fortepiano exponent and collaborative pianist, he relishes the opportunity to work in a diverse array of styles and periods. He has given solo concerts in prestigious venues throughout the world. His 23 CD recordings on the Decca, Naxos and Ode Record labels have all met with unanimous international critical acclaim. Kemp studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London (being elected an Associate in 2001) and the universities of York and Adelaide.

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The Art of the Encore performed at St George & St John Church, on Sunday 13th October at 4:00pm.