Music camp sets town humming

Supplied

MUSIC IN THE PARK: Summer school music pupils entertain visitors in the Oamaru Public Gardens.

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For the past 10 days Oamaru has been a hive of musical activity.

Sixty-two musicians from around the country have converged on the town for the annual Waitaki Summer Music Camp, now in its 15th year.

Yesterday participants performed a lunchtime concert in the Oamaru Public Gardens.

Oamaru woman Joan Mulligan took some time out to enjoy the free entertainment with friends.

"We came to sit and relax and listen to some nice music," she said. "It's lovely.

"It's the surroundings more than anything else, isn't it?"

The camp participants' efforts over the past week culminate in a concert to be held at the Waitaki Boys' High School auditorium tonight.

Camp organiser Paul Claman said the standard was high this year.

Participants ranged in age from 11 to in their 70s and travelled to Oamaru from as far as Auckland and Invercargill, he said.

Tutors included members of the Auckland Philharmonic and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

The camp was started after Mr Claman and a friend decided to reintroduce a music camp similar to the Otekaike Music School they had attended, which is no longer held. He said it was rewarding holding the camps. "It's generally just rip-snorting good fun."

- © Fairfax NZ News