The darlings of New Zealand's youth orchestra scene are heading to Katiakti and Whitianga to enthral and delight classical music lovers this weekend.

The Auckland Youth Orchestra proudly present its October Concert Series which is on at St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Katikati this Saturday, and then at the Whitianga Town Hall on Sunday.

The Auckland Youth Orchestra will be performing for free in Katikati this Saturday before heading north to Whititanga for a ticketed concert on the Sunday. Photo: AYO

Featuring 81 musicians who currently attended either university or high school, the AYO is the premier regional youth orchestra in New Zealand and is led by music director Antun Poljanich.

The programme for these upcoming concerts includes Ravel's ‘Bolero', music from Tchaikovsky's ‘The Nutcracker' and Chen Yi's ‘The Golden Flute' which will feature flautist and 2015 AYO Soloist Competition winner Eva Ding.

'Be mesmerised by the insistent rhythm of Ravel's ‘Bolero' – one long, gradual crescendo culminating in brief, tumultuous chaos,” says AYO manager Jospeh Chen.

'Experience the colourful textures in the ‘Golden Flute' by Chen Yi, performed by Eva. Be captivated by the illustrious, rich, and vibrant themes of Tchaikovsky's popular ‘Nutcracker', including ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' and ‘Waltz of the Flowers'.

Shanghai-born, Auckland-raised Eva Ding has been a member of the AYO since 2013 and originally fell in love with the flute at the tender age of eight.

A recipient of numerous scholarships from the likes of the University of Auckland and the NZ Symphony Orchestra, Eva's also won several awards including the National Young Performer Award and Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society's Carey Concerto and Smith Shield awards.

'Recently returned from a six-month exchange to the University of California in Los Angeles, Eva is brimming with inspiration from her time abroad, and was fortunate to have had the opportunity to take lessons with flute professors from elite music schools Julliard and Eastman.

'Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she intends to continue her studies in performance flute, and will pursue a Master of Music.”

A portion of the proceeds generated by ticket sales for the Whitianga Town Hall concert on the Sunday will go to Creative Mercury Bay to cover their direct costs, with the remainder donated to the Auckland Youth Orchestra.

SunLive has one double pass to give away to one lucky reader for the Whitianga Town Hall concert on Sunday who can tell us the name of Chen Yi's work which will feature flute soloist Eva Ding?

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competition section. All entries must be received by Friday, September 30.

The Auckland Youth Orchestra performs for free at St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Katikati on Saturday, October 1, from 7.30pm. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

The orchestra then heads to the Whitianga Town Hall for a ticketed concert on Sunday, October 2, from 2.30pm. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students, $ for children, and $40 for families, and are available from Whitianga Paper Plus on Albert Street.

For more information visit: www.ayo.org.nz