Featuring: Soloist Helene, Conductor Michael Joel and the Young Bohemians
Sunday, 18 May 2.30pm
Violinist of the piano trio Korimako and Co-Artistic Director of the Wellington String Academy, Helene Pohl was born in Ithaca, New York to German parents and spent her childhood on both sides of the Atlantic.
She began learning violin at age 4 with the Suzuki Method, also had lessons in piano, guitar and clarinet and played baritone saxophone in her high school jazz band. She studied at the Cologne Hochschule, the Eastman School of Music, and Indiana University, where her teacher was the legendary Josef Gingold. From 1988-93 she was first violinist of the San Francisco-based Fidelio Quartet.
She then spent 30 years as first violinist of the New Zealand String Quartet. She has played many concertos around New Zealand, including the world premiere of Louise Webster’s concerto In Hollowed Bone I Hear the Seas Roar which was written for her. From 2001- 2025 she was Co-Artistic Director of the Adam Chamber Music Festival.
With the NZSQ, she founded and taught at 31 Adam Chamber Music Summer Schools. Her violin students from 3 decades of teaching at Victoria University are members of the NZSO, Orchestra Wellington, and the Christchurch Symphony, play chamber music, teach, conduct, compose and add value to New Zealand’s cultural life in myriad ways. Equally committed to nurturing younger students, Helene is Patron of Arohanui Strings+, teaches at youth music camps and workshops, and founded the Queen’s Birthday Chamber Music Weekend (now the Chamber Music Mega Weekend) in 2014.
Michael Joel Is the Musical Director and Conductor of St. Matthew's Chamber Orchestra. New Zealand born Joel studied at Otago University and with conductors Heinz Walberg, Miguel Harth- Bedoya, and Jac van Steen at the Dartington International Summer School. Equally at home with the orchestral, choral and operatic repertoire, Michael has conducted extensively throughout New Zealand and the UK including on the music staff of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is an accomplished orchestra performing a wide repertoire of music specifically providing performance opportunities for New Zealand musicians composers and conductors.
Tickets EventFinda or door sales. EFTPOS or cash.
Adults: $35 Concessions $30; Children: under 12 free. Student Rush on the day; $15
St Matthew- In- The- City, 132 Hobson Street, T: 09 379 0625, www.smco.org.NZ
