Today we meet: tenor Filipe Manu, 2016 Lexus Song Quest runner up, and soprano Eliza Boom the only woman through to the Grand Final this Saturday. Both singers speak with Clarissa Dunn about how their path into classical singing and their personal aspirations.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, with a range of talented vocalists, live steamed its performance of Aida on Friday night. Did it hit the right notes? Peter Hoar was there.

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Martin Riseley will lead in more ways than one this weekend for the BECA Artist Series. He’s also the soloist for this performance. He discusses juggling his many jobs, why Mozart's Concerto for Violin in A major is so important to him and what makes the CSO special.

17 year old pianist Lixin Zhang is already a star. The year 13 Burnside High student’s debut album Play has just been released on Rattle and has shot to number 1 on RNZ Concert’s chart. He tells Eva Radich about his love of the piano, how many hours he practices and how despite the pressure he manages to still have real play in his life.

Much loved children’s book The Gruffalo, is being brought to life by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra this weekend. The story, which has been turned into two short films, follows a mouse and his monster-like friend on an adventure through the forest. The APO, conducted by Terry Davies adds the music to the magic.

We continue our coverage of the build up to the Lexus Song Quest semi-finals this week with long serving pianist Terence Dennis. He speaks about his history with the competition, the importance of personal interpretation and how he’s approaching his work with the 2018 participants.

The semi-finals of the Lexus Song Quest are fast approaching. Talented singers from around the country will converge in Wellington for the semi- final round after months, if not years of preparation. Behind every good singer is a dedicated teacher. Judy Bellingham is one of them.

Pianist Simon Trpceski returns to New Zealand for a national tour with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. He performed at the Michael Fowler Centre on Friday, sandwiched between two Shostakovich works:  the Festival Overture and the 10th Symphony. Peter Mechen was in the crowd.

Influential Jazz drummer and teacher Roger Sellers died over the weekend. Nick Tipping shares his memories and we hear Roger's interview with Haydn Sherley from 1997 about his musical influences over 40 years, playing abroad, and working with some of the world’s (and NZ’s) greatest jazz greats.

Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski returns to New Zealand to perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He talks with David Morriss about his nationwide tour, his love of the NZSO and how the popular piano concerto – which he doesn’t play very often – reminds him of the New Zealand landscape.