RNZ: Upbeat

Listener Kathy Gillard's fantastic version of "The Holly and the Ivy"

An irreverent take on "Good King Wenceslas" by listener Graeme Cairns!

Listener Dana Livesay's moving take on "In the Bleak Midwinter".

Not only are we saying goodbye to the decade, we are also farewelling Upbeat producer and music journalist Zoë George. Here are five pieces that reflect her time with RNZ Concert and RNZ Music.

The Rodger Fox Big Band has been invited to play a concert at the prestigious Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans in January,

Kiwi experimental composer Samuel Holloway explains why music is a “complex beast” and talks about NZTrio performing his work ‘Stapes’ this weekend.

The Pop-up Globe Theatre in Auckland is about to begin its final season. We say farewell with music director Paul McLaney.

The New Zealand Youth Choir is marking its 40th anniversary with a special concert and a tour around the Pacific. David Squire discusses the history of the choir and how it’s encouraged young people to sing up.

Bass-baritone Hadleigh Adams has gone from humble beginnings in Palmerston North to performing with major orchestras around the world. He returns home for the first time in 11 years and will make his New Zealand Symphony Orchestra debut this week singing in Handel’s ‘Messiah’.

Dr Eve de Castro-Robinson is one of this country’s leading composers and composition educators. She’s putting her books away having announced her retirement from teaching after 25 years. She talks about her career, her compositions and what’s next.