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We welcome enquires from players; if you’d like to join the orchestra, please contact us to check availability of places – we’d love to hear from you.
We are compiling a database of people interested in our future concerts, so please contact us if you'd like to have your name added. Follow us on Facebook
About Us
Resonance Ensemble was formed in February 2012 by players and is now firmly established as an integral part of the musical landscape of Christchurch and beyond. Recognised as a high-quality, innovative and flexible orchestral ensemble, Resonance provides opportunities for musicians and audiences to experience both popular and novel repertoire beyond the more standard fare offered by Christchurch’s only fully professional orchestra. Programmes range from music for chamber orchestra, works for larger ensemble, and New Zealand compositions, including new commissions.
The orchestra, conducted by Tony Ryan, rehearses weekly, presenting four concerts per year, and works primarily with Christchurch-based soloists. Previous conductors have included Helen Renaud, Anthony Ferner and Mark Hodgkinson.
Dates for 2025 are: Sunday 6 April, 15 June, 14 September and 30 November, so diary them now. We look forward to presenting wonderful and innovative programmes for our growing and appreciative audience.
Thanks for your support.
Our concert dates for 2025 are: Sunday 6 April, 15 June, 14 September and 30 November, so diary them now – we will have more exciting programmes to share.
Meri Kirihimete!
Thanks to our audience for your support throughout the year - we are thrilled that so many are enjoying the concerts, and are coming back for more.
Tony Ryan is well-known to Christchurch audiences as a conductor, composer, educator, and reviewer. As a conductor he learnt his craft as repetiteur, chorus master and conductor for many organisations including Canterbury Opera where he was assistant to international guest conductors including Vanco Cavdarski, John Matheson, Martin Turnovsky and many others. Since then he has worked extensively as a conductor and composer for Court Theatre, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and others.
In addition to Resonance Ensemble, Tony is the conductor of the Christchurch School of Music Sinfonia and the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival Orchestra.
Conductor: Tony Ryan
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His compositions have frequently been performed and broadcast in New Zealand
and abroad, most recently by Resonance Ensemble, the Christchurch Symphony
Orchestra, the Canterbury Philharmonia, and orchestras from the Christchurch
School of Music. Most recently, he conducted Resonance Ensemble in his orchestral song cycle Omi-Kin-Kan as part of a concert of works by New Zealand composers.
As a teacher Tony led the performing arts at Linwood College for more than thirty
years followed by several years working in Kenya and Singapore.
Tony also writes on matters of musical interest – check out his website here.
Piano: Gabriel Baird
Gabriel Baird is a pianist and bassoonist in Christchurch. He has recently graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Music and is Associate Principal Bassoonist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Gabriel has a busy schedule as a soloist, accompanist and collaborator, and also as an improvising musician at the Court Theatre. Additionally, he has experience as a conductor, composer, and arranger, including work with Enchanting Productions. When not doing all these musical things you can find Gabe doing other musical things: listening to music, talking about music, and reading about music.
Leader: Cornelia Didenco
Cornelia was born in Moldova, one of the ex-Soviet Union republics and is a graduate of the Moldavian State Conservatorium. She has more than 30 years’ experience teaching and for most of that time has also played in symphony orchestras in both Moldova and New Zealand. During her time in the Moldavian Symphony Orchestra she performed at the Sala Verdi in La Scala, and at other prestigious venues in Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Romania.
After emigrating to New Zealand, she joined the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and has also appeared as a soloist and in chamber groups, and as the leader of Resonance Ensemble. Since joining the CSO she has toured with them to Japan and has performed with celebrities such as Diana Krall, Cliff Richard, George Benson, Serj Tankian, and Andrea Bocelli.