Winter may finally have arrived, but it's been a great month for music lovers across the city.

The Michael Hill International violin competition concluded with a thrilling concert of Bartok, Prokofiev and Brahms at Auckland's Town Hall.

Since 2001, this competition has helped launch the careers of many young soloists from across the globe, including Bella Hristova, Feng Ning and Natalia Lomeiko. Check out their recordings available from Auckland Libraries here.

Congratulations to Sergey Malov from Russia, who took first prize with a passionate performance of Bartok's 2nd concerto, accompanied by our very own Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

The 'Big Sing' festival, showcasing secondary school choirs from around the region, had its Auckland heats last week. Auckland libraries got in the mood with a lunchtime concert from the guys at Aorere College. For those of you who couldn't make it, check them out here.

Finally, Wagner fans are no doubt anticipating the upcoming performances of the operas Das Rheingold and Die Valkyrie. Rheingold, performed in concert at Auckland Town Hall by the APO under Music Director Ekhehard Stier, features a largely NZ cast, including Paul Whelan and Anna Leese. Valkyrie is the 2nd instalment of Robert Le Page's striking production for the Metropolitan Opera, showing at cinemas nationwide from June 30.

If you just can't wait, check out these resources available from Auckland Libraries:

After suffering a stroke last week, Big Man Clarence Clemons, the iconic saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, died on Saturday.

A former football player, and one of the few men to make saxophone cool, Clemons' characteristic sound helped Springsteen to create a number of rock music's greatest albums, especially Born To Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town.

Read a bit about him in this Rolling Stone interview.

There's an urban myth that Clemons' show rider frequently included a whole roast chicken. Who knows how true it is, but this might be proof.

So in Clarence's honour, here's a recommended list:

We’re already a week into June! The Queen had her birthday, some important people were honoured, while the rest of us did our winter weeding and burning in the back yard. And how fast did May go by. Another successful NZ Music Month been and gone, when local music was heard loud and clear on air, online and onstage.

The events didn’t seem to stand out so much this year, which testifies to the growing popularity of New Zealand music all year round, from summer’s Music in Parks to the Vodafone Music Awards in September. Not to mention the fine work of radio stations like 95bfm with the Fancy New Band showcase and KiwiFM uninhibited promotion of all good local produce.

In Auckland Libraries we celebrated with ukulele jams, concerts between the bookshelves, the premiere of a commissioned work, a panel discussion with important local music industry personalities. The discussion proved to be a fascinating conversation on important issues like the new NZ On Air ‘Making Tracks’ funding structure,, the legal issues of running a live music venue, and the ability to tour New Zealand without getting into much trouble.

At Onehunga Community Library, they partied their way through Youth Week with DJs and dancing out the front, while inside we jammed our way through Bruno Mars on fourteen ukuleles. Check out Onehunga’s Facebook page here, and their Youth Week photos here. Also, follow All things Musical at Auckland Libraries here.

So overall, May was a great success for Auckland music. Keep your eyes on the guides http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/ for what’s coming up. Otherwise, hunker down in your thermal socks and listen to some some good sounds to get you through winter. The new Fleet Foxes is pretty sweet.