For 11-year-old Dunedin cellist Nel Pardas, playing in an ensemble at the University of Otago Chamber Music Summer School has been a steep learning curve, and one which has honed his listening skills.
Nel said he had been playing cello for six years and usually rehearsed on his own, which could be quite a lonely experience.
But this week, Nel is the youngest of 17 talented string and piano players from around Otago and Southland selected to take part in workshops with some of New Zealand's top performers, aimed at creating some of the country's next chamber music stars.
"It's my first time playing in an ensemble - it's quite different."
Ms Petersen said the world's finest chamber groups were those that seemed to play as one, and the coaching the pupils received was not just about learning notes.
"It's not just knowing and playing your own music; it's about keeping an ear on what everyone else is doing.
"They need to absorb what the other parts are doing. The more they know all the other parts, the better they will play together.
"For some, it's a very different experience playing in an ensemble."
Ms Petersen said the five ensembles would display their new-found skills during a public concert at the University of Otago's Marama Hall tomorrow at 3pm.
