Tony Ryan reviews the Christchurch Symphony Orchestras Fear and Courage concert featuring energetic pianist Nikolay Khozyainov.

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra is joined by virtuoso pianist Nikolay Khozyainov for its Fear and Courage concert tomorrow. Prokofiev’s third Piano Concerto, Bernard Hermann’s Psycho and Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony bring drama to the Air Force Museum on Saturday night. Nikolay joins CSO conductor Benjamin Northey to discuss the programme.

New Zealand pianist Somi Kim specializes in collaborative music making. She made a decision while studying at the Royal Academy in London that working with other musicians would be her focus. She’s about to make her debut with NZTrio in the midst of a full schedule playing for international competitions, master classes and at summer schools from her base in London.

Thousands of young voices will sing up over the coming weeks for the New Zealand Choral Federation’s annual Big Sing competition. 260 choirs from 150 schools are participating this year. National co-ordinator Elizabeth Crayford talks about why growing numbers are singing up.

Kiwi tenor Simon O’Neill has returned home to perform Wagner’s song cycle Wesendonck Lieder with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra around the country. Peter Hoar was at the Auckland concert which also featured Bruckner’s Symphony No 4.

Bass player and composer Umar Zakaria has won the Recorded Music New Zealand Best Jazz Artist Tui at this year’s Jazz Awards. He may only be young but he’s stepping up in the local Jazz scene. He talks to Nick Tipping about his album Fearless Music and winning the Tui last week.

Studio 54 and orchestral music don’t usually go together, but this week the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is cranking out the platforms, bellbottoms and big hair as they bring disco hits alive. APO’s Frances Moore & David Kay explain why orchestral music works so well cross genre.

The Loemis Festival is offering up winter solstice goodies for the coming weeks in Wellington. It featuring feasts, flaming figures in the harbour and fantastical musical flavours. Organiser Andrew Laking and Warren Warbrick explain more.

Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan take centre stage for a new six-week course being offered at the New Zealand School of Music. Jazz singer-songwriter Bruce Brown gives Nick Tipping a sneak peak of what to expect in A History of Vocal Jazz: Female Icons.

The Wellington Jazz Festival started with a hiss and a roar last night. Norman Meehan has compiled a list of must-not-miss performances by visiting and local artists.