Nikau Harp Trio 🗓
Friday 17th February
8pm – Late
Tickets $25 Here
ARTS ON TOUR NEW ZEALAND PRESENTS:
Music composed for harp, violin and cello is extraordinary and beautiful – the plucked harp
strings are vibrant and brilliant, whilst the bowed violin and cello strings are sustained and
sonorous.
Named after the magnificent carved palm on Helen’s harp with its golden huia bird on the
soundboard, Nikau Harp Trio bring to life the glittering magical world of harp with strings.
Nikau’s program opens with joyful Baroque trio by George Frideric Handel, to the world of
French romance by the little known woman composer and harpist Henriette Renié, followed
by her compatriot Jaques Ibert and his sparkling witty Trio, written in 1943.
Pop your effervescent drink of choice for the second half, and enjoy Mozart’s Blue Rondo,
Fandangos; Swing by Cole Porter, Gershwin et al, the hypnotic haze of Irons’ Dreamland,
Nikau’s own arrangement of Debussy’s timeless Clair de Lune, to arrive at pulsating Tango of
Piazzolla’s Argentina. Dancers welcome!
With nature featuring strongly in this ensembles ethos, the trio are delighted to include
Korimako Bells, written for them by NZ film composer Mark Smythe, inspired by the call of
the Bellbird. The trio also are passionate about the Abel Tasmans Birdsong Trust, which
aims to return the sound of native birdcalls to the forests and beaches of this national park.
Nikau is a trio of outstanding musicians – Helen Webby, Cathy Irons and Paul Mitchell; with
extensive NZ and international experience. Webby and Irons successfully toured South
Island as a duo in 2021 with many requests to return, and are delighted to invite Mitchell to
join them on tour this year, to create Nikau Harp Trio.
Helen Webby’s harp was made by her brother Kim Webby. He made his first harp when he
was 16, from a plan his mother found in the Whangarei Public Library – a small Irish lever
harp. Now Kim Webby makes professional full size concert harps, and recently finished a
commissioned harp for the NZSO.
Helen Webby (harp) Principal Harp with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Helen loves to
come out of the back of the orchestra and play her amazing Concert harp. Helen studied
harp in Auckland, The Netherlands and Germany, and was lucky to be mentored by several
top European harpists: Edward Witsenburg and Maria Graf. Helen’s recordings are
frequently heard on RNZ Concert, and her solo CD Pluck (MANU) was nominated for Best
Classical CD in the 2013 NZ Music Awards. Helen is a favourite with Arts on Tour audiences
around New Zealand, and she features in the recent documentary Central to the Soul by
Dunedin film-maker Bill Morris, selected for the 14th International Doc Edge Festival in
2019. Helen is passionate about sharing the magic and mystery of the harp: she teaches
harp players of all ages in Christchurch and Dunedin, plays solo and chamber music, and
pushes the boundaries of harp music with her friends in Café Operana.
Cathy Irons (violin) performs regularly in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO),
including roles such as acting assistant concertmaster. She tours concerts regularly
throughout NZ and further afield, in Australia and South Africa. Cathy has toured for
Chamber Music NZ. Another string to her bow is her cross-over playing with the Classical
Jazz Quartet and Duo Douce Ambiance with jazz pianist, Dan Robertson. Cathy enjoys
collaborating with musicians, artists, dancers and composers; recent multi-genre
performances include Labyrinth in the Library, CSO Studio Series: Journeying Inward and the
Creative Stage. She has performed and/or recorded with Cliff Richard, Brooke Fraser, Craig
Smith and Amiria Grenell and her recent collaborative CD with Aled Jones and Russell
Watson reached No 1 in the UK Classical Charts. Her eclectic range of skills and personal
warmth resonates with the people she interacts with which has led her to sharing her music
in many different environments. She has received two Arts Access Awards on behalf of the
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for her work in Corrections and with disability sector.
Cathy is currently community Engagement Artist for Chamber Music New Zealand.
Paul Mitchell studied cello at The University of Auckland under Coral Bognuda, later
winning an Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music Scholarship. Three years of advanced
study at the Royal College of Music followed, with Professors Christopher Bunting, William
Pleeth and the Chilingirian String Quartet.
For the next ten years Paul lived and worked in Spain where he held principal positions with
the Balearic Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra of Cordoba, appearing as soloist in the
Elgar Cello Concerto. He toured and broadcast widely with the La Havana String Quartet,
playing in Festivals in Madrid, Alicante, Cordoba, Seville, Amsterdam and Bern.
Since returning to home he has worked with Orchestra Wellington, Christchurch Symphony,
Auckland Philharmonia, and the NZSO. He has toured for Chamber Music New Zealand with
the Helios Ensemble and Poneke Trio. In 2016 he featured as soloist in John Elmsley’s Cello
Symphony with Auckland Chamber Orchestra. Paul plays as principal cello in Bach Musica
NZ and the Auckland Chamber Orchestra.
From a dazzling display of virtuosity to the gentle lilt of a lullaby, from the energetic burst of
passion to quiet contemplation, the cascading sound of Nikau Harp Trio will captivate and
leave you breathless.