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.

This is awesome: Lawrence Arabia (formerly of Reduction Agents) getting his hipster on in Auckland city. Swimming at some North Shore mansion, dressed up sharp in a Crane Brothers suit, walking Queen St, taking the ferry, flicking through his iPhone in Myers Park, reading Sartre in Vulcan Lane... Is he having a go at us?

Lucky Christchurch City Libraries get to see him play live between the shelves this month.

It’s week 3 of NZ Music Month, and there’s still a whole lot more to come at Auckland Libraries.

In last week’s ukulele lesson, we worked our way through Iko Iko and Pokarekare Ana, and tried to come to terms with the D major chord.

For all our students who would like to learn more, check out these links:

And if you don’t yet have a uke, here are a few good ideas:

The Rock Shop has ukuleles from $35 to $1299.

Mr Hewitt at Hewitt's Fiddle Shop makes Kapono, some of the most beautiful ukuleles around. See his site here.

And of course there’s an interesting range of new and pre-loved ukuleles on Trademe.

So what’s coming up?

The Grey Lynn Ukuladies continue to tour, playing Grey Lynn Library on Friday 27, and Blockhouse Bay on Sunday 29!

This week Avondale Library has two musical storytimes on Thursday 19 and Saturday 21.

Tomorrow at 3.30pm in Glen Innes Library, local legend: Tony Paki with Julius bust out their favourite grooves.

Remuera Library continue to feature a fantastic range of classical performances, including St Kentigern Boys Soloists and Jazz Quartet on the 19th at 11.30, Remuera Intermediate School Orchestra and Ensemble on Friday 20, at 12.15, and the beautiful sounds of the Baradene Girls' Orchestra on Thursday 26 May at 11am.

Over on the island, Waiheke Library have Waiheke High School's all-girls choir, led by Sarah McNabb performing Canto Isola on Saturday 21 at 11am, and at the same time the following week, Little Sister – Four 'sisters' of big Sister Shout bring a full house with their a capella set.

To find out more check the What's On page!

Want to know the best carparks in town to get you to soundcheck on time?

Wondering why it always rains at Big Day Out?

Auckland Libraries High Frequency panel discussion has the answers.

Join us for an entertaining evening of sound thoughts, old arguments and true stories about the highs and lows of making music in Auckland.

Our esteemed panelists include writer/musician Gareth Shute, venue manager Rohan Evans, producer/engineer Dave Parker, record label boss/DJ Andrew Maitai and the infamous Street Chant.

Following talk and refreshments, Lisa Crawley will be at the grand piano to perform an intimate set of songs from her upcoming album.

Where: Level 2, Central City Library
When: Friday 20 May, 6.00pm

Cost: Free

Come one come all and find your inner Hawaiian! All you need are four fingers for four nylon strings and one day this might be you:

Whether you're in a mid-life crisis and can't afford a Fender Stratocaster, or you've been learning the recorder and would like to upgrade, this class is perfect for you.

So book your place and get to Auckland Central City Library tomorrow, Wednesday 11 May, at 1.30pm on Level 2, for an intensively fun session with our resident ukulele-qualified librarians.

All ukuleles will be supplied.

The Whiskey has a huge series of gigs, including Andrew Keoghan, Anika Moa, Avalanche City, Bic Runga, Che Fu, Clap Clap Riot, Dave Dobbyn, Don McGlashan, Greg Fleming & The Trains, Greg Johnson, Hello Sailor, Motocade, Nairobi Trio, Nathan Haines, The Peter Urlich Sextet, Ruby Frost, and The Jordan Luck Band.

And on the classical side, the University of Auckland Music Theatre have a number of performances and seminars with important figures like Nick Bollinger, many of which are free!

In the Libraries we have a great variety of concerts, seminars and workshops, kicked off by the APO Young Achievers Concert which includes the premiere of a new composition by Callum Blackmore, inspired by the Auckland Art Gallery’s Warren Viscoe artwork.

Towards the end of the month, we will reflect on Auckland music’s recent past and future at High Frequency! This free panel discussion with local music luminaries, including Dave Parker, Gareth Shute, and members of Street Chant will be a fun night of stories, memories, hopes and thoughts on where Auckland independent music is headed. The talk will be followed by refreshments and a performance by Lisa Crawley.

Be sure to check our page for more details on what’s on! Book yourself into a ukulele class, come in to Central Library on your Thursday lunch break to hear some beautiful music, or see the amazing array of local artists in the community libraries around town.

Auckland Libraries NZ Music Month.

More info on NZ Music Month here.

This looks interesting!

From Radio New Zealand:
Rachel Dawick is a blues/folk musician who has returned home after eight years in the UK studying for a Masters in Songwriting. Wanting to re-connect with her homeland, she began searching for songs written by early female European settlers of Aotearoa, and finding very little, she's decided to collect the stories and write the songs herself.

Listen to her on Music 101 on Radio New Zealand National tomorrow.

And for more stories check out her website here.

Prepare for a combination of cuteness overload and amazement as young Jonathan conducts Beethoven's 5th, with more passion than any professional I've seen, picking his nose AND keeping in time. Incredible.

If you want your baby to be a musical prodigy, click here, and here
 


Also this week on Youtube: on March 20, after decades of amazing, influential recordings, Tom Waits was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted by the legendary godfather of grunge, Neil Young. What follows is a glimpse of genius which has only burned brighter with age.



If you want to know more about this strange poet/musician/magician/actor/performer, click here.

Or here, for an insightful book about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Here's a little something to whet your Laneway Festival appetite. Videos from Kiwi indie stalwarts Lawrence Arabia and LA dreamsters Warpaint.

See you at Aotea Square on Auckland Anniversary Day