A salute to Gallipoli shall echo through the Whitianga Town Hall with the return of the Auckland Youth Orchetsra this Sunday.

Interested lovers of orchestral music are also being given a very rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain and watch the youth orchestra in rehearsal on Saturday.

Midsummer Dreams – a salute to Gallipoli – will be a truly eclectic mix of shorter pieces, featuring different sections of the orchestra: percussion, brass, strings, and even a piece for five violas.

The programme features Gareth Farr's Little Sea Gongs, Gabrieli's Canzon Primi Toni, John Cage's Dream, Alexander Cowdell's Canzona For String Orchestra, Haydn's Symphony No. 100, Biber's Battalia a 10 and Humperdink's Abendsegen und Traumpantomime.

Creative Mercury Bay chair Jan Wright says they are delighted to welcome back the 55 talented young NZ musicians who make up the AYO.

'We count ourselves as lucky to have a full orchestra which is prepared to trek across the hills to play for us,” says Jan. 'I'm absolutely looking forward to Sunday and whenever the orchestra plays here.”

She says: The programme is a salute to Gallipoli and each composer and piece has been very carefully selected.

The youth orchestra have selected composers who have created music 'replicating the sound and intensity of war”.

'Because our town hall is so small, the front row is only a metre away from the orchestra so people four rows back see the eye communication between the musicians, every intake of breath by the soloists

'It's a very intimate relationship and connection between the audience and orchestra, one that is felt equally by the musicians who can see the impact of the music.”

Jan is also thrilled the orchestra has graciously opened up its doors and allowing orchestral music lovers the chance to watch them as they rehearse the programme on Saturday.

She says while each of the 55 musicians would have been working on the pieces individually, it'll be the first time they will all play the music together.

Saturday's rehearsal will be open to roughly ten people, who can email Jan to express their interest.

'This will further deepen the relationship the orchestra has with the Mercury Bay community, so it's a cool opportunity for interested people to see how they develop a piece of music.”

The Auckland Youth Orchestra presents ‘Midsummer Dreams' at the Whitianga Town Hall on Sunday, February 15, from 5pm.

Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for student, $5 for children, and $40 for families (2 x adult, 2 x child).

For more information visit: www.creativemercurybay.co.nz or email [email protected]