Tauranga music and art fanatics are in for a treat tomorrow night as a trio of chamber musicians bring artworks to life with sound at Tauranga Art Gallery.

NZTrio, consisting of cellist Ashley Brown, pianist Sarah Watkins and violinist Justine Cormack, are bringing their ‘Art3' concert series to the gallery for the first time on August 7. Photo: supplied.

NZTrio, consisting of cellist Ashley Brown, pianist Sarah Watkins and violinist Justine Cormack, are bringing their ‘Art3' concert series to the gallery for the first time on August 7.

Art3 - art to the power of three - demonstrates the versatility of NZTrio creating a multi-faceted arts experience that combines musical feeling with visual pleasure, says manager Vanessa Zigliano.

'The great thing about being in a visual art space is it really suits the contemporary style of what the trio perform. Their signature style of programming is always to match classical masterpieces by the well-known composers, including Beethoven, with contemporary compositions.”

Audiences will be serenaded by the musical talents of NZTrio, while viewing the artworks of the Black Rainbow Exhibition that brings together five black paintings with a red piano.

The paintings are the works of two iconic artists – Ralph Hotere and Michael Parakowhai.

Vanessa says the group respond to the art and the conceptual elements behind the work – in effect, ‘playing' the artworks chosen using a carefully considered programme.

'The exhibition juxtaposes works of European roots and New Zealand contemporary art and culture.”

Artists featuring on the programme include works from Beethhoven, Taiwanese composer Yu-Hui Chang, Estonian composer Arvo Part as well as New Zealand composers Karlo Margetic and Michael Norris.

'There's something for everybody,” says Vanessa. 'There's some beautiful Beethoven, some Arvo Part which people will also know and then some really contemporary sounds form our New Zealanders.”

NZTrio is at Tauranga Art Gallery on August 7 from 6.30pm. Tickets cost $25 and are available from the gallery.

SunLive has a double pass to giveaway to NZTrio's ‘Art3' series. Enter the competition here.