The Hawke's Bay Orchestral Society (HBOS) is NZ’s oldest orchestral society, catering for musicians of all ages with emphasis on the youth of Hawke's Bay. HBOS oversees three orchestras: the Youth Orchestra, the Training Orchestra, and the Community Orchestra.

 

Through the program of weekly rehearsals, young musicians who have only been playing for a few months can develop their reading and ensemble skills, meet like-minded youngsters from the Bay, and have some fun under the tutelage of Mary McHattie in the Training Orchestra.

 

Once these musicians have progressed and want to tackle some more challenging repertoire, they move to the Youth Orchestra - this term under the direction of Robbie Cargill, in preparation for a concert on Mother's Day. Some of the most talented musicians are part of this orchestra including NCEA scholarship and Hawke's Bay Young Musician of the year recipients, but what links them with a common thread is their love of music and sense of tuakana-teina and community.

 

Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Community Orchestra, where lifelong learners and lovers of music can rehearse and enjoy making music together - this year under the direction of both Teresa Cuthbert and Rolf Remin.