Auckland Violinist Susan Davis: Performances
Some lovely events performed at by Susan Davis violin with Ambiance Strings.
Ambiance Strings: Devonport Arts Festival
During the Wynyard St Street Festival we entertained guests with great composers such as Mozart, Haydn and Massenet, providing both classical and romantic pieces.
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| Susan Davis, Ben King, Judith Gust and Maxine Cunliffe at the Devonport Arts Festival |
Officers Mess Narrow Neck: Wedding
This venue is absolutely beautiful and has excellent acoustics. It is amazing to have such a venue with fabulous views so close to town. We loved playing here for the gorgeous couple.
The Pohutukawa Trio: Concert in Devonport Depot Artspace
Three of us, Susan Davis, Maxine Cunliffe and Emily Allen have formed a concert string trio to perform to audiences throughout the region.
Beethoven's Op. 3: String Trio No. 1 in E-flat major (1794).
Beethoven was 24 at the time he wrote this, and this piece is an ambitious six-movement work, full of Beethoven's contrasts including exciting, dramatic, melodious and romantic themes and harmonies.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Bucklands Beach Golf Course
This venue has fabulous views over the Hauraki Gulf and beautiful music had been chosen.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at Abbeville Estate Wedding
This venue has old-fashioned charm while being conveniently close to the airport. Playing for 3 hours gave us a great opportunity to fit in longer, complex quartets such as Mozart's K 387 and Haydn's 'Lark'.
Susan Davis Solo: Knighthood Investiture for Sir Peter Williams QC.
It was a great honour to provide music at this event in which Sir Peter Williams QC received his knighthood from Governor-General Jerry Mateparae. Attendees included Paul Henry, John Banks and Winston Peters.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Formosa Golf Course
This venue provided a beautiful setting with fabulous views and the couple had made charming choices for their special pieces.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Ambers, Silverdale
This lovely house had a perfect garden for the arrival of guests and ceremony. I was happy to play some of my most exciting repertoire for the appreciative guests.
Ambiance Strings: Duo at a Devonport Wedding
At this beautiful wedding at St Francis de Sales, Devonport we enjoyed playing pieces chosen by the couple and some duets written specifically for violin and cello.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at a Special Event
We played at a beautiful rural home in Waitoku, providing string quartet music by Mozart, Haydn, Schumann and other composers. Playing for a solid 2 hours gave us a great opportunity to fit in longer quartets such as Haydn's 'Lark'.
Violin and Piano: Sonata Concert
My friend and pianist Dianne and I played again at the Poynton, Takapuna. The venue has good acoustics, and we enjoyed playing the Beethoven 'Spring' sonata and the first movement of the Brahms G major sonata.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Devonport Yacht Club
I felt honoured to play at this beautiful wedding in my own community. The lovely venue, warm, charming people and happy atmosphere made this a wonderful day.
Ambiance Strings: Trio at Wilson Home Wedding
We enjoyed playing on this lovely day in the excellent acoustics of the Wilson Home chapel. Both the famous wedding pieces were chosen by the couple: Wagner and Mendelssohn.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at a Business Open Day
On a beautiful afternoon we played Haydn, Schumann, Mozart and also the third Bach Brandenburg concerto, while guests enjoyed the warm weather and lovely catering.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Northridge Country Lodge
This beautiful wedding included the couple's choice of Elgar's beautiful 'Salut d’Amour'. Many guests kindly complimented the light classical music and relaxed fun jazz, and I enjoyed playing for them.
Violin and Piano: Short Recital
Many thanks to pianist David, and to the concert organiser and piano and recorder teacher Colleen, asking us to play at Waiake again. We played the first movement of Schubert's Sonatina in D major.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Brookgreen Park, Coatesville
This wonderful venue has perfect lawns, a charming lake with a 'Monet' type bridge and plenty of shady trees. I entertained the guests with relaxed classical music before the ceremony and more lively classical and jazz afterwards.
Ambiance Strings: Trio at Bridgewater Estate
Despite cyclone Lusi, everyone stayed dry and the wedding was absolutely beautiful. We were happy to present classical and jazz music, including Mozart, Schumann and some popular jazz standards.
Ambiance Strings: Duo at Private Vineyard
This Matakana area vineyard overlooked fields and the sea. The beautiful wedding included a rose-strewn bridal walk, phenomenal views and the romantic music chosen by the couple, such as Haendel's 'Largo' and Massenet's 'Meditation'.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at Hurstmere House, Matakana
This fabulous setting was perfect for a wedding and for sound production: we sat under a verandah in front of a wall, which acted as a 'sound shell', while the guests enjoyed the garden in front. We presented Mozart, Haydn, Bach and the bride's chosen aisle piece: Pachelbel.
Ambiance Strings: Duo at Gracehill Vineyard
Our violin and cello duo were happy to present a wide variety of composers on this special day in this very beautiful setting.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at Wilson Home
In glorious weather we loved playing in these delightful gardens, including that special piece chosen by the bride and groom for her entrance through the rose walk.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding in a Private Garden
I enjoyed providing solo music for a beautiful wedding in a private Kumeu garden. Solo playing is a great opportunity to present some very romantic pieces by Beethoven and Kreisler.
2013
Violin and Piano: Concert Evening
My friend David and I enjoyed bringing Schubert's Sonatina in D major and Kreisler's 'Liebesleid' to an appreciative audience at a lovely music evening in Milford.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet in Remuera
Here we played in a beautiful private home for a glamorous wedding function, presenting some of the more sophisticated Mozart and Haydn quartets.
Ambiance Strings: Duo at Gracehill Vineyard
Despite the weather, this wedding was charming and we presented Beethoven, Mozart and many other composers. Their duets are not as well known as their larger works, but are very lovely.
Violin and Piano: Short Recital
Many thanks to my friend and pianist David, and to the concert organiser and piano and recorder teacher Colleen, who invited us to play at the Trinity Church, Waiake. David and I presented the romantic 'Meditation' from Massenet's opera 'Thais'.
Susan Davis: Violin Solo at the Domain
At this charming nook for a wedding at the Watson Bequest area of the Domain, the organisers had set everything up beautifully. Gentle string music seemed just right for this dreamy setting.
Ambiance Strings: Trio at Chelsea Reserve Wedding
This reserve is another lovely setting I hadn't played at before. There was a great view over the inner harbour and a large reserve with old trees and historic small brick houses to add a special touch.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at Art Gallery
This was a beautiful venue: The Auckland Art Gallery's Mackelvie Gallery. In these great acoustics we played for a BNZ board dinner at the gallery, including some of the more demanding Haydn string quartets. The special treat for us was seeing some of the fabulous art, including Art Nouveau paintings.
Ambiance Strings: Trio at Mantell's
Three of us played for a beautiful wedding at Mantell's, Mt Eden. It gave us the opportunity to provide some of our favourite music to an appreciative audience.
2012
Ambiance Strings: Violin and Cello Duo at Howick Wedding
The Presbyterian Church in Howick was the venue for this wedding. It was a perfect day, and the cellist and I enjoyed playing in the acoustics of this beautiful wooden church.
Ambiance Strings: Two Violin Duo at Westfield
We took this opportunity to present some less familiar European Christmas carols and Christmas concerti by Manfredini and Corelli, as well as the English carols that everyone knows and loves.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Botanical Gardens
This wedding at the Botanical Gardens gave me a chance to see this well-designed venue for the first time. A remarkable amount of planning has gone into these gardens, and the lovely background contributed greatly to the wedding.
Susan Davis Solo: Wedding at Cotter House
I played at a beautiful wedding yesterday, 4 hours solo at the lovely Cotter House in the charming ballroom mainly playing, but a bit of jazzy singing as well towards the end. A very kind couple and guests. Wedding gigs are so nice, full of happiness and love in beautiful settings :)
Ambiance Strings: Quartet in Cornwall Park
At a lovely wedding on Saturday in Cornwall Park the quartet played some of Haydn's 'Lark' and Mozart KV 387. We had a room with good acoustics and enjoyed playing these complex quartets in which the voices interact and each instrument is fully valued by the composer.
Violin and Piano: Sonata Concert
My friend and pianist Dianne and I played Mozart and Beethoven sonatas (K 301 and 'Spring) at our recital. The venue has a good piano in a nice large space, and the atmosphere was relaxed. It went very well - I think we projected plenty of energy in addition to the hard work we'd put into the detailed passages paying off.
I definitely had that 'flow' experience of time just disappearing - the 40 minute recital felt like 5 minutes.
Ambiance Strings: Quartet at Wilson Home
At the charming Wilson Home, under the shady pergola, we played for a beautiful wedding, covering pieces from Mozart, Bach, Pachelbel and many others. A lovely atmosphere, surrounded by roses in bloom :)
Ambiance Strings: Trio at Bridgewater Wedding
Bridgewater, Kaukapakapa is a stunning venue with a large garden and pond, where we played for gorgeous outdoor wedding.
Ambiance Strings: Trio at Mantell's
Mantell's is a great city venue with an atrium, where this lovely wedding was held. The trio had the opportunity to play a large range of our repertoire in this venue with good acoustics.
Violin and Piano: Sonata Recital
Thanks to my friend and pianist David, and to the organiser Colleen, who invited us to play for her pupils at the Trinity Church, Waiake. We played a Mozart sonata (KV 301) and enjoyed the friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere. It is particularly nice to play for young people who want to be playing these pieces one day :)
Earlier Highlights: corporate events and weddings, Ambiance String Quartet Auckland, Ambiance other ensembles and Susan Davis solo:
St Mark's, Remuera
Cornwall Park Band Rotunda
New Zealander of the Year Awards Dinners
Auckland Town Hall
Hyatt/Pullman Hotel and Resort
Waitakere Estate
Brigham Creek
Waipuna Hotel
Hopetown Alpha
PWC Tower Quay St
Wilson Trust Gardens
Floating Pavilion
Settlers Lodge Waimuku
Auckland City Art Lounge
Alberton House
Mantell's Mt Eden
Rydges
Navy Wardroom Summer Ball
