A Night to Remember
Photos by Pieter du Plessis for Arts Festival
On March 28, 2025, something pretty special happened. We got to perform with the Dunedin Youth Orchestra at Errick’s, as part of the Dunedin Arts Festival. The show, Beautiful is the Listening Ear, brought together our band and 24 incredible young orchestral players for one unforgettable night.
Playing our music wrapped in the sound of strings, woodwinds, brass and timpani was unlike anything we’ve done before. Thanks to the epic arrangements by Maddy Parkins-Craig and Professor Anthony Ritchie—and the guiding hand of conductor Peter Adams—the songs took on a whole new life.
The response was kind of overwhelming, to be honest. The Otago Daily Times called it “plentiful in entertainment value,” and Alison May Blair said it felt “like a warm bath for the soul.” Big thanks also to Radio One and Ara Toi for their kind words and support—it means the world.
Photos by Pieter du Plessis for Arts Festival
To everyone in the Dunedin Youth Orchestra: you’re amazing. Sharing the stage with you, figuring it out together, and pulling off something this bold—it reminded us why we do what we do. You brought so much energy, openness, and skill to the whole project.
Huge thanks to the Dunedin Arts Festival for backing this wild idea, and to everyone who came and listened with open ears and hearts. We’ll carry this night with us for a long time.
Gratefully,
IVY
Photos by Pieter du Plessis for Arts Festival
With thanks to:
Kirsten McAuley, Dunedin Youth Orchestra, VELVET the label, Dunedin Arts Festival, IVY, Maddy Parkins-Craig, Anthony Ritchie, Peter Adams, Mike Axton, Stevenson Brown Limited, Big Steam Investments Limited, Darkest Dunedin, Creative NZ Creative Communities Scheme, Ara Toi Ōtepoti, Dunedin Casino Charitable Trust, Dunedin City Council