Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra

Experiences - Ngaa wheako

BY, WITH AND FOR THE COMMUNITY

Engaging orchestra experiences that enrich the lives of community, players and audiences in Kirikiriroa Hamilton and across the wider Waikato.

The Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra is one of the longest-established orchestras in New Zealand. The 160 community musician members include amateur players, music students and instrumental music teachers, all drawn from the Waikato region, with players aged from 18 to 80.

About the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra

The Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra (TWSO) is a community orchestra open to all musicians, but a proficiency of Grade 6 level or above is recommended for players to find the experience most rewarding. TWSO nurtures and supports musical activities within the community and is probably most well-known for its annual Sunset Symphony performance as part of the Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa.

As a community-focused orchestra, TWSO promotes education, public awareness, and appreciation of the arts through concerts, workshops, musical performances, and composition. Its community focus is reflected in its concerts for whaanau each year, as well as its collaborations with other local arts groups such as dance schools, musical theatre organisations and choirs.

How to join TWSO

We are always looking for passionate musicians to join our orchestra.

Either send an enquiry using the link below, or email support@orchestras.org.nz and tell us a bit about yourself, what instrument you play and at what sort of level. While there can be limited places for woodwind and brass players it is still worth enquiring and of course, you are also welcome to come along to our all-inclusive Rusty Player Orchestra sessions.

Rehearsals

TWSO rehearses at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato on Monday evenings, and generally also on the weekend immediately prior to a concert.

Registration fees for 2026

There is no annual membership fee with players simply paying a registration fee for the events in which they participate. For 2026 the fees are:

$48.00 waged
$26.50 unwaged, community services card holder, students

2026 dates

21 February 2026 - Sunset Symphony
3 May 2026 - The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (with Hamilton Operatic Society)
30 August 2026 - Enchanted Worlds whaanau concert
8 November 2026 - Details to be revealed

Play with us

Meet TWSO's conductors for 2026

Rupert D'Cruze

Principal Conductor Emeritus

Rupert D’Cruze has been leading TWSO since 2008.

Following conducting studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music, he achieved success in international conducting competitions in both Japan and Hungary, which led to a large number of engagements in Europe including the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, South German Radio Symphony Orchestra, North Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy.

He was Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra during the 1990s, and also Musical Director of the Portsmouth Festival Choir. Rupert's work as a guest conductor in New Zealand includes with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Manukau City Symphony Orchestra and the St Matthews Chamber Orchestra.

Rupert announced his retirement as TWSO's conductor in February 2026, with the Sunset Symphony being his last concert with the orchestra.

Simon Brew

Simon Brew is a conductor, classical saxophonist, and arts manager who graduated from the Artez Conservatorium, the Netherlands, in 2010 with a Masters degree in classical saxophone under Johan van der Linden. Prior to this he gained his Honours degree (1st class) from Massey University, New Zealand, under Debbie Rawson.

He has been a contract player for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia and the Netherlands Blazers Ensemble. Simon has toured New Zealand with chamber ensembles Saxcess and Tango Virtuosi including tours for Chamber Music New Zealand. Simon has been principal saxophone for the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Director of Music of the Royal New Zealand Airforce Band and Music Director of the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta.

More recently he held the position of Education Manager for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Simon is now based in the Waikato combining a busy work portfolio as General Manager of the Cambridge Town Hall alongside the occasional saxophone gig.

Simon is the musical director and conductor for TWSO's Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber collaboration with the Hamilton Operatic Society In May.

Athena Shiu

Born in Hong Kong, Athena Shiu is an emerging conductor, trombonist, and educator based in Tāmaki Makaurau. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Trombone Performance from the University of Auckland and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Audiology. She has performed with ensembles including Bach Musica, Opus Orchestra, the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, and Auckland Youth Orchestra.

Athena studied conducting with Jono Palmer and Michael Joel, and is currently part of the CSO Aspiring Conducting Programme under Benjamin Northey. She also recently served as Assistant Musical Director of the NZ Youth Symphonic Winds. Athena’s current engagement includes the Principal Conductor of the Auckland University Student Chamber Orchestra, Musical Director of Uniband Jazz Band, and Assistant Musical Director of Uniband.

As an educator passionate about community and collaboration, Athena has taught in various schools and organisations including Sistema Aotearoa, Tironui Music Trust, Sacred Heart College, and Howick School of Music.

Athena will be conducting our whaanau concert, Enchanted Worlds, part of our Central Celebrates mini-festival.

View TWSO's archives

“What a wonderful diverse programme! It was exciting, but most of all, couldn’t get over the richness of sound that hasn’t been there before especially in the strings. The cohesion and balance was a joy and the warmth that came through from the strings was heart-warming. It was a wonderful afternoon. Thank you once again” - Audience member

“Brilliant concert! … I felt really spoilt as a mother with children in different cities to have a lovely concert to go to, and to have a chocolate! … It was so cool to look at the orchestra from a different perspective … What came across was that they looked happy to be on stage. I was also struck by what a stable group it is. Lots of the people have been playing together for a long time” - Audience member

“This concert could not have happened without heaps of work over months from each one involved. This communal cooperation and good live music make the world a better place. It is indeed a very special experience and privilege for me to be involved with and know TWSO’s dedicated, hard working group of musicians and staff” - TWSO musician