The Auckland Symphony Orchestra in special partnership with the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre commence the 2012 musical calendar with a charity concert of classical proportions.

Auckland Afternoon Classics features Schubert's Symphony no.8 in B minor, Beethoven's Piano Concerto no.3 in C minor, Elgar's Serenade for Strings in E minor, along with a performance of "Raukatauri", a composition penned by multi-talented ASO string player and RMTC therapist Alison Talmage.

The orchestra is also delighted to introduce Auckland pianist Jane Koo to the stage. The performance student, who is currently in her third year at The University of Auckland, has recently returned from competing overseas in The Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. In 2010 Ms Koo received her LTCL diploma in Solo Piano with distinction, scoring the highest mark in New Zealand. For many concertgoers the afternoons programme may well prove to be a trip down memory lane with both Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony and Beethoven's no. 3 Piano Concerto featuring in the former School Certificate music syllabus.

The concert will be conducted by ASO Music Director, Peter Thomas.