IHC RELAXED CONCERT SERIES

ABOUT

The IHC Relaxed Concert Series is our award-winning series of relaxed and accessible concerts in partnership with the IHC Foundation. These performances focus on inclusion, participation and discovery opportunities for diverse audiences.

Participation is a big part of these events; trust-building and learning songs in accompanying workshops prior to the concerts lead to a higher level of participation and an overall more relaxed environment. These are relaxed performances – everybody is encouraged to move around, vocalise and express themselves as they wish.

Our IHC Relaxed Concert Series have cemented themselves as one of Chamber Music New Zealand’s core programmes since its inception in 2013. Part of our mission statement is to “create remarkable experiences throughout Aotearoa – international quality ‘music up close’.” The IHC Relaxed Concert Series seeks to do just that – to give everyone the opportunity to access, value and engage with live music and new experiences and support them to live satisfying lives in the community.

“For people with disabilities to have access to Chamber Music concerts is a demonstration of inclusion and a dedication to increasing audience diversity. Like Arts Access Aotearoa, Chamber Music New Zealand believes that it is a basic human right for all people to have access to the arts.”
– Claire Noble, Arts Access Aotearoa

TOUR PARTNER

The Christchurch event is kindly supported by

THE MUSICIANS

Saxcess Saxophone Quartet
Debbie Rawson soprano sax
Peter Liley alto sax
Graham Hanify tenor sax
Tim Workman baritone sax

with Julian Raphael

Saxcess was formed in 1992 and made its debut in the Sydney Opera House at a concert staged by the Royal Australian Air Force to commemorate the battle of the Coral Sea. In 1994 the group travelled to Belgium for a three week tour in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the death of the founder of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax. Since then Saxcess has undertaken numerous nation-wide tours for Creative New Zealand, Chamber Music New Zealand, and Arts On Tour New Zealand, has appeared with the Royal new Zealand Ballet, and at all the major arts festivals around the country.

With a mixture of jazz, classical and cutting edge contemporary, Saxcess performs its multi layered compositions with style and panache and has become in demand for festivals, music societies and concert halls around the country

Julian Raphael (B.Mus, M.Phil, PTCS) is a highly experienced community musician, music educator, composer and performer who works alongside children and grown-ups with a philosophy and teaching style that is influenced and informed by music-making of the world’s cultures. He is director of Community Music Junction which operated in Wellington for fourteen years, enabling both children and adults to sing together and learn a variety of musical instruments.

Julian founded the Wellington Community Choir, the men’s vocal ensemble MaleVocale as well as several daytime social-singing groups. The organisation relocated to Taranaki this year, where it has established a community choir and marimba and drumming classes. Julian also works with several schools in the area offering guitar tuition plus vocal and percussion workshops. As a song-leader Julian tours the country running choir workshops for mixed voices and is spear-heading a movement to get more men involved in group singing in a social environment.