Music comes to Whakatane in April when the Bay of Plenty Music School gathers for its annual get together.

Whakatane is hosting the annual Bay of Plenty Music School, which is New Zealand's longest surviving music school.

Whakatane last hosted the event in 2007.

The Music School caters for instrumentalists and choristers from school-age to senior adults and draws participants from all over the North Island, particularly the Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

Whakatane residents have always formed a significant proportion of the school's students.

The Music School is an excellent opportunity for musicians to improve their skills in a collaborative atmosphere under the direction of leading New Zealand exponents in their fields.

This year conductors Rupert D'Cruze, for the string orchestra, Kathleen Mulligan, for the Wind Band, and choir director Chalium Poppy will lead sessions.

They bring participants the benefit of their wide range of experiences, and significant international exposure.

Repertoire this year includes a full orchestra and choir performance of Handel's Zadok the Priest, the orchestra playing excerpts from Dvorak's Symphony No.8, Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No.1.

The wind band will play John Williams's A 'Star Wars' tune, Pierre La Plante's American River Songs, and the choir will perform Lauridsen's Agnus Dei/Lux Aetterna, Handel's The King Shall Rejoice, to name a few of the many pieces in the music folders. The range spanning modern, folk, church to baroque styles.

Further information and enrolment details are available online at bopmusicschool.org.nz

You can also like them on Facebook: Bay of Plenty Music School.