It’s time to be transported back in time to the Baroque era in Europe when music was bursting with innovation and fresh musical forms such as a solo concerto.

Audiences were captivated by the brilliance of Antonio Vivaldi’s groundbreaking pieces which he specially composed to showcase the talents of his students.

Eight Tauranga students will be bringing three concertos by Antonio Vivaldi and two concertos by Georg Telemann to life at two concerts on Saturday at Baycourt.

The Tauranga Youth Chamber Ensemble from Ahlers Violin Studio in Tauranga, made up of violinists, a flautist, and a cellist, all aged 11-18, will be performing at 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

“We are focusing on Vivaldi violin concertos, a double concerto for two violins, a Telemann viola concerto, and a Telemann flute concerto,” says Ahlers Violin Studio’s Anneli Ahlers.

Most of the group have been playing together as a violin ensemble for the past four years. For their Saturday performances, they are delighted to be including 16-year-old flautist Enoch Tie as the soloist for the Telemann Flute Concerto, and 18-year-old Pachakamac Lema as a very much-needed cellist to play the basso continuo part in all the works.

The violinists making up the rest of the ensemble are Ephraim Tie, age 14, Elisha Tie – 12, Esha Xu – 11, Jasper Zhang – 11, Esther Eldo – 12, and Ryan Su – 11.

Japanese conductor Naotaka Maejima, who has had extensive experience both performing as a baroque cellist in chamber music and as a soloist, will be conducting the performances.

“He has been working very hard with them,” says Anneli.

“He is a Baroque specialist so is helping us do it in the correct style.”

Anneli says the eight students will be joined by three teachers, with Chalium Poppy playing the harpsichord, Therese Ahlers playing the cello, and Anneli playing the viola.

“The harpsichord student also plays viola so when she plays the viola concerto her harpsichord teacher will play the harpsichord.”

The concertos they will be performing by Vivaldi are Concerto in D Minor for Strings and Basso Continuo, Concerto Op 3. No.6 in A minor for Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo, and Concerto Op. 3 No. 8 in A minor for Two Violins, Strings and Basso Continuo.

The two concertos by Telemann are Concerto in G Major for Flute, Two Violins and Basso Continuo, and Concerto in G Major for Viola, Strings and Basso Continuo.

Tickets to the one-hour performances at 2.30pm and 4.30pm on Saturday July 20 at Baycourt X-Space can be purchased on Eventfinda and at the Baycourt box office.