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We welcome enquires from players; if you’d like to join the orchestra, please contact us to check availability of places – we’d love to hear from you.​
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About Us
Resonance Ensemble was formed in February 2012 by players and is now firmly established as an integral part of the musical landscape of Christchurch and beyond. Recognised as a high-quality, innovative and flexible orchestral ensemble, Resonance provides opportunities for musicians and audiences to experience both popular and novel repertoire beyond the more standard fare offered by Christchurch’s only fully professional orchestra. Programmes range from music for chamber orchestra, works for larger ensemble, and New Zealand compositions, including new commissions.
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The orchestra, conducted by Tony Ryan, rehearses weekly, presenting four concerts per year, and works primarily with Christchurch-based soloists. Previous conductors have included Helen Renaud, Anthony Ferner and Mark Hodgkinson.
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Concert dates for 2026 are at 3pm on 29 March, 28 June, 13 September and 29 November, so diary them now. We look forward to presenting wonderful and innovative programmes for our growing and appreciative audience.
Thanks for your support.
Sweet Sorrow - Music inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Bernstein, Rota, Hextall, Gounod was our last concert of the year.
Conducted by Tony Ryan with Soloists, Lana Law (Alto Saxophone) and Emily-Jane Stockman (Soprano)
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Concert dates for 2026 are 29 March, 28 June, 13 September and 29 November​
Tony Ryan is well-known to Christchurch audiences as a conductor, composer, educator, and reviewer. As a conductor he learnt his craft as repetiteur, chorus master and conductor for many organisations including Canterbury Opera where he was assistant to international guest conductors including Vanco Cavdarski, John Matheson, Martin Turnovsky and many others. Since then he has worked extensively as a conductor and composer for Court Theatre, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and others.
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In addition to Resonance Ensemble, Tony is the conductor of the Christchurch School of Music Sinfonia and the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival Orchestra. ​​​
Conductor: Tony Ryan
His compositions have frequently been performed and broadcast in New Zealand and abroad, most recently by Resonance Ensemble, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Canterbury Philharmonia, and orchestras from the Christchurch School of Music.
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His Saxophone Concerto, with stellar saxophonist Alice Morgan, along with a brief Fanfare written in honour of New Zealand composer, John Ritchie, were featured in Resonance's Matariki concert in June. As a teacher Tony led the performing arts at Linwood College for more than thirty years followed by several years working in Kenya and Singapore. Tony also writes on matters of musical interest – check out his website.
Saxophone: Lana Law
It was love at first play when Lana Law first picked up the baritone sax at age 13. Following her passion, she went on to complete her Bachelor of Music (BMus) Degree in Jazz Performance at Massey University before touring the world as a professional musician. Lana loves music education, teaching students individually and in groups, both privately and as an itinerant music teacher and Band Director in schools.
Lana is the co-founder and Music Director of NZ’s first all-female big band, The All Girl Big Band, and the former Music Director of the Garden City Big Band, playing the lead alto saxophone chair in both these bands. Lana has been the Music Director of the Christchurch Youth Jazz Orchestra (CYJO) since 2021. In 2024, Lana adjudicated the National Youth Jazz Competition with Rodger Fox, as part of the Tauranga Jazz Festival and continued this role in 2025. Lana plays in various musical groups and as a session musician, both locally in Christchurch and nationally.
Soprano: Emily-Jane Stockman
Emily-Jane Stockman had her first singing lesson at the age of 9. Now, she has completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours (First Class) at the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM), and is preparing for auditions further afield. During her time at NZSM, she performed as a chorus member in their production of Orpheus in the Underworld, and in 2023 she had the absolute pleasure of performing as the magical fairy godmother in Massenet’s Cendrillon. Emily-Jane also received two awards during her time at NZSM: the 2023 Opera Award for Excellence in Performance, and the 2022 Kapiti Chorale Award in Vocal Performance.
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Recently, Emily-Jane has been undertaking engagements in her home community of Christchurch. She was a member of the NZ Opera chorus in La Bohème earlier this year and has performed with Toi Toi Opera in various concerts and masterclasses. She is also a member of the Christchurch Youth Choir and took part in Considering Matthew Shepard as a soloist and choir member. Towards the end of this year, Emily-Jane is looking forward to performing as the Soprano soloist for Kapiti Chorale's Elijah by Mendelssohn.
Leader: Cornelia Didenco
Cornelia was born in Moldova, one of the ex-Soviet Union republics and is a graduate of the Moldavian State Conservatorium. She has more than 30 years’ experience teaching and for most of that time has also played in symphony orchestras in both Moldova and New Zealand. During her time in the Moldavian Symphony Orchestra she performed at the Sala Verdi in La Scala, and at other prestigious venues in Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Romania.
After emigrating to New Zealand, she joined the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and has also appeared as a soloist and in chamber groups, and as the leader of Resonance Ensemble. Since joining the CSO she has toured with them to Japan and has performed with celebrities such as Diana Krall, Cliff Richard, George Benson, Serj Tankian, and Andrea Bocelli.