Making classical concerts affordable

Musicians from around the globe performed six chamber music concerts organised by the Greytown Music Group. Funding from Nikau Foundation helped keep ticket prices low so cost was no barrier for Wairarapa residents.  

Breaking down barriers  

All too often, classical concerts and hefty ticket prices go hand in hand. To make sure Wairarapa residents have access to affordable, world-class performances, Greytown Music Group’s Juliet and Ed Cooke have been organising chamber music concerts where cost is not a prohibitive factor.  

“We provide high-quality concerts for the people of Wairarapa at reasonable cost,” says Juliet. “Most of our audience members are elderly people, many on very limited incomes, and they enjoy being able to attend our concerts in their local area rather than having to drive over the Remutaka Hill to attend concerts at additional stress and cost.”  

To get the younger audience involved, Juliet and Ed have a policy that young children come free to encourage parents to bring the kids along, while adults pay $25 and students $10.  

Since 1977, Juliet and Ed have organised over 216 concert programmes, with most performances held in their Greytown home.  

“People like the friendly and informal atmosphere that enables audience members and players to mingle afterwards,” says Juliet.  

“The musicians perform chamber music in our ‘chamber’– our living room – so the concerts are quite intimate, with the front row of the audience within an arm’s reach of the players.”  

Keen concert goers  

Over 580 people who enjoyed the concerts held between April and September 2019 weren’t at all put off by some pretty damp, cold weather, with five of the six performances selling out. New Zealand violinists and Serbian cellists were among the soloists, trios and ensembles performing for these hardy Wairarapa folk.  

Nikau funding covering costs  

Grants from organisations like Nikau Foundation help Greytown Music Group continue to run its popular concert series and, importantly, attract world-class musicians from here and overseas.  

“We try and obtain grants that will cover our operating expenses so that we can give the entire audience takings to the performers. The grant from Nikau amounted to nearly a quarter of our expenses.”  

Performing in April, Trio Pohadka and Friends – Doctors with Instruments in turn donated $2,605 they received from ticket and CD sales to the Cancer Society. 

We are grateful to the Barbara Milne Fund who helped make this grant possible.