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"I LOVE Mulled Wine Concerts as they are so intimate.
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With gratitude, Helen"

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Richard Mapp and Emma Sayers Richard Mapp and Emma Sayers


TOP PIANO DUO : EMMA SAYERS and RICHARD MAPP

Mulled Wine Concerts - the winter concert series based in Paekakariki - have been working through their 2015 season and have received much appreciation for the high quality of musicians they have brought to Kapiti audiences.

Now organiser Mary Gow is getting excited about the final concert in the 2015 series, due to take place at the Paekakariki Memorial Hall on Sunday 16 August. This concert, somewhat unusually features two top-level NZ pianists, Emma Sayers and Richard Mapp who will not only play music from the "four hands" repertoire but will each give a solo performance as well. "I love the sound of two people playing the piano" says Gow, "and four hands on our beautiful new Schimmel piano will sound marvellous in the Memorial Hall, with its sparkling acoustics". The pair will duet on music by Mozart, Brahms, Debussy and New Zealand composer Ken Young, then Mapp will solo a piece by Toru Takemitsu and Sayers will present a Rachmaninoff prelude.

Emma Sayers studied piano for many years with noted Wellington teacher, Judith Clark. She continued her studies at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. After returning to New Zealand Emma began teaching at the Massey Conservatorium of Music. When Richard Mapp joined the faculty they began playing piano duets and haven't stopped!

Richard was born in Christchurch, and studied there with Ernest Empson and Maurice Till. He graduated from the University of Otago with Honours then pursued further study in London at the Royal Academy. While still a student in NZ Richard performed with the NZSO and toured for Chamber Music NZ. While he was based in London, Richard had a successful career as a soloist and chamber musician, playing at the South Bank and the Wigmore Hall and recording for BBC Radio 3. He also gave concerts across Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia and Fiji. After returning to New Zealand Richard moved to Wellington. He is now an Artist Teacher at the NZSM, and has recently taught at the University of Canterbury and University of Waikato.

Paekakariki's Memorial Hall is becoming well known to concert-goers in New Zealand for its superb beachfront location, easy parking and welcoming ambience. Many concert-goers love to combine superb music with a walk on the beach and sampling the fare provided by the local inns, restaurants and cafes. And a soupçon of Mulled WIne served in the interval helps keep the winter chills away!

 


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