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May 2, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Event date:
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May 2, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Event end:
From the earliest times in human history, music has been made on flutes and harps. It
would be impossible to say which came first – the sound produced by blowing over a
hollow reed or pipe, or the sound of a string stretched over a sounding board. What can
be said with confidence that together these instruments produce music of shimmering
Beauty which can have remarkable effects on humans who listen to it. Mulled Wine
Concerts, the music organisation run by Mary Gow will be producing a flute and a harp
concert on May 2 in Featherston’s historic Anzac Hall, which will delight local concert-goers-
goers.
Carolyn Mills has recently retired after 37 years as Principal Harpist of the New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra. Her passion for the harp has taken her all around the world, and she
has performed internationally in countless concerts and festivals. Carolyn is fascinated by
the harp’s unique qualities and its ability to weave a magic spell for so many. She is now a
Certified Music Practitioner offering harp therapy to hospitals, care homes, and other
healthcare settings. Her experiences have left her with no doubt about the special powers
of the harp’s resonance in healing the human spirit.
Bridget Douglas is the Principal Flute of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and
an artist-teacher in flute at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī. She graduated
from Victoria and Otago Universities before travelling to the USA for postgraduate study on
a Fulbright Graduate Award. In 2020, Bridget was awarded the CANZ (Composers
Association of NZ) KBB Citation for Services to NZ Music.
Flute and harp combine in a luminous programme, weaving together music of lyric beauty.
From the serene mysticism of Hovhaness’s “The Garden of Adonis” and the shimmering
soundscape of Eve de Castro Robinson’s “Pearls of the Sea” to folk-inspired gems by
Ravel and traditional Celtic melodies such as “The Skye Boat Song” and “She Moved
Through the Fair”, the concert travels through many musical worlds. Baroque elegance
from Marcello, Purcell, and Bach sits alongside Chopin’s sparkling “Variations on a Theme
by Rossini” and a charming Praetorius set including “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”. The
programme also includes original works for solo harp by Carolyn Mills, showcasing the
instrument’s rich colours and expressive range. Mulled Wine Concerts organiser, Mary
Gow is excited by the prospect of bringing such spellbinding music to a Wairarapa
audience. “I’m really looking forward to it”, she says, “It will surely make for an afternoon to
remember!”
===ENDS===
Mulled Wine Concerts presents Bridget Douglas (flute) and Carolyn Mills (harp) in
concert
Online sales: marygow@gmail.com. Tel: 021 101 9609
Info: www.mulledwineconcerts.com, or on Facebook: Mulled Wine Concerts.
Ticket outlets (please note: CASH ONLY): Dickensian Bookshop, Featherston: Mrs
Blackwell’s Village Bookshop, Greytown: iSITE, Masterton: iSITE, Martinborough.