Storytellers: Anthology in Oamaru

Presenting our 2026 Season: Storytellers. Behind every piece of music is a story and throughout our 2026 Season, we’ll dive into them. Across concerts, collaborations, workshops and communities we’ll explore how composers transform stories and experiences into sound. We’ll boldly showcase more compositional voices than ever before, beginning with early folk melodies, and classical masterworks that resonate through the centuries, through to modern-day Grammy-winners and the distinctive voices of Aotearoa.

For our Anthology concerts we're bringing together the best pieces of music from the year into one programme.

Mika Cornelius Universal Veil

Franz Schubert Movements from String Quartet No. 10, in E flat major (D. 87)

Gareth Farr Movements from Mondo Rondo

Interval

Antonín Dvořák Movements from String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 (The American Quartet)

Excerpts from the Danish String Quartet's album, Last Leaf

‘Anthology’ opens with a piece composed especially for the NZSQ: Mika Cornelius’s Universal Veil, an ethereal and atmospheric trip through the lifecycle of fungi.

Schubert’s vibrant E flat major quartet shows the teenage composer finding his voice before Gareth Farr brings us home with the infectious personality of Mondo Rondo.

Dvořák‘s String Quartet no. 12, opus 96, the beloved “American Quartet“, features sweeping melodies that evoke the spirit of exploration and adventure.

Last Leaf, the acclaimed album by the Danish String Quartet reimagines early Scandinavian folk melodies, wandering through joy, sorrow and nostalgia.

Storytellers reflects a rich cross-section of our society and celebrates the art of storytelling through music. Join us in concert 2026 and let us tell you a story.