Strike Elemental - Shows in Hastings, Hamilton and New Plymouth
Wednesday 21 March 2012, 8:16AM
By Publicity +
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New Zealand's leading percussion ensemble Strike are bringing their high
energy live drumming show Strike Elemental to Hastings, Hamilton and New
Plymouth this April.
Strike Elemental uses hydrophones, pyro phones, dippophones, Bedford trucks
and percussion instruments to explore heritage, rhythm and the environment
in a breath-taking journey of sound manipulation, choreography and
invention.
Since their inception in 1993, Strike have combined the talents of some of
New Zealand's best musicians, dancers and symphony orchestras with Pacific,
classical and contemporary music, movement and theatre.
The group features founding member Murray Hickman (Chamber Music NZ,
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and NZSO), performers Takumi Motokawa, Tom
Scrase, Leni Sulusi, Tim Whitta and compositions by Gareth Farr.
They have toured nationally and internationally and performed with groups as
diverse as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet
and Kora and individually they have worked with artists like Don McGlashan,
John Psathas, Fat Freddy's Drop and Joe Cocker. Recent Strike shows include
appearances at Taiwan International Percussion Festival and with Hayley
Westenra at the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final.
Strike Elemental is the first production of 2012 to be presented by the
Central North Island Arts Consortium - comprised of Clarence St Theatre,
Hamilton, Showplace Theatre, New Plymouth and the Hawkes Bay Opera House,
Hastings - and funded by Creative New Zealand under its Regional
Distribution Funding Strategy. Don't miss -
STRIKE ELEMENTAL
Tuesday 17 April 11am workshop and 7.30pm performance
Hawkes Bay Opera House, HASTINGS - www.ticketek.co.nz / 0800-Ticket
Thursday 19 April 11am workshop and 7.30pm performance
Clarence St Theatre, HAMILTON - www.ticketek.co.nz / 0800-Ticket
Saturday 21 April 11am workshop and 7.30pm performance
TSB Showplace, NEW PLYMOUTH - www.ticketmaster.co.nz / 0800-111-999
"First and foremost they are world-classed musicians. Once you digest that
you can appreciate the group as innovative composers, riveting performers,
physical theatre professionals, aesthetically gifted choreographers and
stamina-abundant athletes to boot" - Caoilinn Hughes,
". very much a show, rather than a concert. Filled with movement, shadow,
space, light, darkness, mime and - most gloriously - drums, STRIKE's
Elemental is the best show I have seen from the talented quartet." - Simon
Sweetman, Dominion Post
STRIKE WORKSHOPS
Get up close and personal with the crew from Strike, learn how to correctly
hold drumsticks, count the beat, and play as a team. Strike Introductory
Workshops are designed to instill a passion for playing music within people
of all ages. Participants (approximately 30 per session) are issued with a
drum and a pair of drum-sticks, then over the course of the hour long
workshop, will learn a composition from the Strike repertoire. The skill
level and rhythmic intricacy Strike draw from even the most inexperienced
group is staggering. Strike was awarded a Local Heroes medal in the 2012
New Zealander of the Year Awards for their workshop programme.
Renowned for their education work Strike presented their hugely popular
schools shows to more than one million NZ students of all ages. In demand
as educators throughout the world they have conducted their innovative
ensemble class programme at some of the world's most prestigious music
institutions, including the Royal Schools of Music in London and Manchester,
Paris Conservatoire, Korean National University, Singapore's National
Academy of Fine Arts, and the Australian National University.
www.strike.co.nz/performing/classical-STRIKE.php