Janneke is one of 25 young musicians from across Otago and Southland set to compete at the University of Otago College of Education Auditorium from this Friday to Sunday. They will be vying to be one of three finalists selected to compete at Dunedin Town Hall on May 16.
Janneke has been practising hard over the summer, as she prepares to play the eight-minute second movement from Mozart’s Concerto No. 11, with University of Otago teaching fellow in piano accompaniment Tom McGrath playing a second piano.
Mozart is one of her favourite composers to play, along with Chopin, Bach, Beethoven and "a little bit of Rachmaninov".
Janneke chose the Mozart concerto for the competition, with advice from McGrath, and has been working on it for the past six months — practising two and a-half hours each day, except on Sundays, and up to five hours a day during the holidays.
"I’m going to be playing it from memory, so the best way to learn it and remember it is by playing it over and over again," she said.
"I’m looking forward to getting up there to perform, and also to listening to the other competitors."
A rehearsal performance by several competitors for family and friends earlier this week had gone "very well", boosting her confidence.
A year 7 pupil at Columba College, Janneke has been learning the piano since the age of 4, first with Dunedin music teacher Amelia Mah, before transitioning to her current teacher, Prof Rachel Cho. She also studies with McGrath from time to time.
Janneke is no stranger to performing, she has competed in Dunedin Performing Arts and Competitions Society events, plays at St Paul’s Cathedral during services and has recently begun playing in the Columba College chapel.
Music and performing arts talent is strong within Janneke’s large family — she is the youngest girl of 10 siblings in Australia and New Zealand — and her parents Cathy and Dutch Gunther are very supportive.
Mrs Gunther plays piano herself, and Janneke and her brother Josiah, 8, enjoy playing duets together.
Her paternal grandfather, Cor Gunther, was a well-known jazz guitarist in Victoria, Australia, and her maternal great-grandfather was an expert on ancient Chinese instruments. Her great-aunt is a singer with the Beijing Opera.
Although music is a huge part of her life, Janneke also enjoys her school work and some interesting hobbies — she is a competent horse-rider, having had more than 70 riding lessons, and is learning to fly a plane.
She has big dreams for the future, hoping to become a fighter pilot one day, or a concert pianist.
EVENT DETAILS:
The Dunedin Concerto Competition preliminary rounds will be held from Friday to Sunday, March 7-9, at the College of Education Auditorium.
There are 25 entrants, ranging in age from 10 years to 21 years, playing a diverse mix of instruments. They comprise 10 pianists, six string players, five brass players, and four woodwind players.
The panel of adjudicators includes Sydney Symphony Orchestra principal horn Samuel Jacobs, NZ School of Music lecturer and former second violinist of the NZ String Quartet Monique Lapins and Victoria University of Wellington acting head of school and head of piano studies Jian Liu.
The competition sessions are open to the public and will be held on Friday from 6pm; Saturday from 10.30am, 2pm, and 6pm; and Sunday from 10.30am. Entrance is via koha.
The semifinalists will be announced about 12.45pm on Sunday, the semifinals to be held at 4pm and 6pm.
The three finalists and other prizes will be announced about 7.30pm on Sunday.
The finalists will go on to perform at the Dunedin Town Hall on May 16, supported by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and players from Dunedin Youth Orchestra, conducted by James Judd.
The prize money totals $20,000, sponsored by the H Towers Charitable Trust and the Bill and Clare Hodgson Bequest.
