TACH Baroque Quartet

The TACH Baroque Quartet returns to the Globe Sunday Matinee series to perform a programme of music of the eighteenth century for flute, violin, cello and harpsichord by the German Telemann, the French Couperin and Rameau. Almost completely self-taught in music, Telemann is one of the most prolific composers in history, and was compared favourably by his contemporaries both to his friends Bach, and Handel. In 1730 he wrote twelve such quartets, two of which will be performed in this concert. Similar music was being created in France with a quite different flavour, as will be apparent in the piece by Couperin on the programme. Harpsichord player Roy Tankersley will perform two colourful pieces by Rameau depicting swirls of dust in a high wind, and the pecking of a hen. As a foil to the Baroque music the programme will include a piece by twentieth-century Brazilian composer Villa-Lobos for flute and cello – ‘Jet Whistle.’

The performers have distinguished backgrounds. Flute player Ingrid Culliford spent many years studying and working in London as a free-lance flautist where she worked with several known orchestras and chamber ensembles. After teaching at Trinity College and the Royal Academy of Music Junior department, Ingrid returned to New Zealand in 1994. Since then, she has worked as a casual extra with the NZSO and is a recording artist for Radio NZ. Ms Culliford continues to give recitals, master-classes and concerto performances throughout NZ. In August 2015 she was recipient of a Chamber Music NZ award for outstanding service, and was appointed as a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2019 New Years Honours list for services to Music Education.

Violinist Shontae Arthur has been having both violin and piano lessons since she was 7. She completed her ATCL violin exam when she was 15 and passed her ATCL piano diploma last year, and she is currently teaching violin and piano.

Cellist Annie Hunt was born and grew up in Whanganui. Annie was a member of the Auckland Symphonia (Now Philharmonia) for two years. She then travelled to Britain on an Arts Council grant and spent 25 years teaching and doing professional freelance work in orchestras, quartets and theatres in Britain. She moved back to Whanganui in March 2017 and is currently teaching strings at four schools in Whanganui and two in Marton, giving private lessons and teaching for the Out of Hours Music classes. In 2019 she set up the Whanganui Schools' String Ensemble.

Harpsichord player Roy Tankersley completed Post Graduate Studies at the Guildhall School of Music in London. He has been involved in music education at Secondary and Tertiary levels for 40 years, performs on organ and harpsichord and has directed various choirs. Since 2003 Roy has worked as a free lance performer, teacher and adjudicator. He is Chairman of the Manawatu/Whanganui region of NZ Choral Federation, a Fellow of the NZ Association of Organists and an Associate of the Royal School of Church Music. He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in New Year Honours 2011.

Under present Level 2 Covid regulations seating will be limited, and audience members are invited to be masked.

Admission is by donation, recommended from $5.