Camerata

Music for all

New listeners and classical music aficionados alike enjoyed Camerata’s short concerts of elegant, beautiful music. Camerata’s musicians’ brought a vibrant, joyful musicality in their exploration of quality, historically informed performance within an intimate chamber music aesthetic led by the Concertmaster, in an exquisite acoustical space.​

Our story

Camerata was founded in 2015 by Director Liz Pritchett and the late luthier and cellist Ian Lyons, to create music-making opportunities that all could enjoy. Ian rang New Zealand Symphony Orchestra first violinist Anne Loeser to invite her to lead and, in the midst of cooking at a holiday bach, she unwisely agreed! The rest is history, with Anne becoming Camerata’s Musical Director and Concertmaster.

Over ten years Camerata performed twenty concerts of small forces orchestral and string orchestra pieces from a range of eras, with an early Haydn symphony a mainstay item.

The final concert was on 5 April 2025: Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross.

Musicians generously donated their time, as did Liz and Anne, to ensure anyone could attend concerts. Over the decade more than 120 musicians played in one or more concert, with a core of regulars . It proved a valuable opportunity for music students and amateur musicians to play alongside professional musicians from Orchestra Wellington and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Camerata audience members shared their enthusiasm for concerts with us, many commenting they had never attended a live classical concert before, which gave us a lot of joy.

​Camerata was a not for profit trust, directed and managed by Liz Pritchett.