Friends of the APO Inc - Meet The Artist

The morning will start with a piano recital by Geoff Hill. Geoff is 14 years old and a year 10 student at ACG Parnell College where he is heavily involved in the music programme as part of a piano trio as well as playing keyboards in the Senior Jazz Ensemble and Big Band.

Geoff was born and is being raised in Auckland. Both his parents, originally from the United States, are musicians. His dad, Gordon Hill is the Principal Bass of the APO, and his mum Anne Rodda was the manager of the APO and now runs the MHIVC and recently organised the NZer of the year awards. Geoff is studying with Stephen De Pledge and plans to be a conductor one day.

This recital will be followed by an interview with Rod Skipp, Programme Director for Sistema Aotearoa. A New Zealander, Rod has recently returned to lead the Sistema Aotearoa programme, having spent the last 10 years as Artistic Director of "In Harmony Liverpool", a Sistema-inspired programme led by the Liverpool Philharmonic.

During his time in Liverpool, Rod conducted the Everton Children’s Orchestra, Resonate Youth Philharmonic, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra and the University of Liverpool Symphony Orchestra. He also conducted side-by-side performances with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela.

The morning will conclude with a finger food Lunch.