Over winter, Synthony in the Snow took place at Coronet Peak - a world-first electronic dance music event featuring a live orchestra, vocalists, classical instruments, a DJ and an immersive visual show.

What makes this event even more special is that the majority of the orchestra was made up of local musicians from our own community. Performers include a real mix of locals - from well-known lakeside buskers to music teachers and beyond.

Before the big day,  we spoke to conductor Emma Featherston about how it’s all going to the lead up, and why she believes our locals are ‘magnificent.’

/

The countdown is on until the world-first Synthony in the Snow. I understand Synthony is a New Zealand-born and based show that is now expanding abroad. How did Synthony in the Snow come to be here in Queenstown? 

Synthony in the Snow came about under the leadership of David Higgins, the founding director of Duco Events. David is incredible at thinking outside the box when it comes to creating epic experiences for concert-goers. The expansion of Synthony is something to relish - being Kiwi owned and operated, it truly is a local export.

Emma, you were once a drummer in a rock band, playing many different instruments and enjoying a wide mix of music genres. Now you’re the conductor of Synthony in the Snow. Did you ever imagine you’d be standing where you are now?

Yes, it’s always been a dream of mine to combine my love of classical music with my love of rock music. The two fit beautifully together in a way I never thought possible.

Synthony is bringing in a big crowd, many of who might never have experienced an orchestra before. Are you loving seeing the enthusiasm? 

Seeing people dancing and enjoying music is the true gift of being a musician. It’s about sharing that love and joy. The audience is often unsure how an orchestra could bring about these feelings, but it all works hand in hand. Music is an expression of self, no matter what the instrument.

We were excited to hear the majority of musicians in the orchestra are local to our area, is that right? 

Yes, we have a 15-piece orchestra for this gig, and the majority of string players are from the local region. It’s been an amazing way to connect with the local community! When I first began looking for local musicians, I contacted Nikki Rhind, who is a wonderful violinist. She  led me to Sheena Naughton, who runs the Party Orchestra in Queenstown. Her first response was, epic!

Local violinist Erica Hastie says the opportunity to be part of Synthony has been amazing. Was part of the plan always to provide opportunities for our local musicians?

We always like to tap into local performers for these concerts. We recently saw the same local collaboration in New Plymouth; it’s wonderful to tap into local talent pools. Most of the shows are led by established orchestras from main centres, so this is quite a unique shift.

Our town is known for adventure, but we also have a thriving creative community. How have you found connecting and practising with the locals? 

The locals here have been magnificent, especially the musicians. Don’t underestimate the amount of talent here. One of our players is a regular busker down by the lakeside, while others offer private lessons to share their vast knowledge. The team’s various centres have really looked after us, too. One of the local vets even bumped one of our performer’s dogs ahead for surgery so she didn’t miss a rehearsal! 

With several classical music events taking place in the region each year, including the upcoming At the World's Edge Festival and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, do you think Synthony in the Snow will become an annual event?

We hope this is the start of something that can grow and develop in the region, to add to the cultural landscape that already exists.

Working in education, supporting youth to engage with music must be important to you. Do you see Synthony as a way of connecting the younger generation with music? 

Most definitely! There is a lot of very positive research on how playing a musical instrument can better develop previously dormant neural pathways. I’d encourage everyone to consider taking up music as a way to develop these pathways and the authentic aesthetic awareness that comes with it. The earlier you start the musical journey, the stronger these synapses are, and they are lifelong. In saying that, you’re never too old to learn an instrument.

Do you have any advice for our local rangatahi and tamariki who may want to follow in your footsteps? 

If it’s an option, I’d look at getting private lessons through your school. The government funds a portion of these and you can check in with your music teachers as to how to access these lessons. The sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll find your flare.

Finally - and perhaps most importantly - have you got your Merino layers sorted? 

Yes! We’ve been sponsored by the amazing team at Macpac who have made sure we’ll be well looked after to face the cold.

Thank you so much for your time, Emma. We can’t wait to watch the world-first Synthony in the Snow this weekend!

If you’d like to find out more about Synthony in the Snow or Emma Featherstone, you can: 

• Watch a Synthony performance here

• Hear more from Emma about Synthony in the Snow on Radio NZ here