Based in Wellington, Ensemble Gô brings together New Zealand String Quartet’s violinist, Monique Lapins and a Japanese percussionist, Naoto Segawa in an undying pursuit and discovery of new music and new composers with fluid and versatile instrumental collaborations.

First formed in 2013, the ensemble has given performances with diverse instrumental combinations including marimba and the string quartet (marimba quintet); violin and snare drum; sheng and guzheng (Chinese instruments) to works with tape/electronics.

Ensemble Gô also has an intense passion to share the music of contemporary composers from both within New Zealand and from around the world, performing works ranging from Stravinsky's L'histoire du soldat, Jacob Ter Veldhuis’s “Grab it” (with tape/electronics), “Sonata for Violin and Marimba” by Peter Klatzow (South Africa) and have premiered works including “Triptych for Two” by Simon Eastwood (New Zealand); “Heavenward” by Joshua Cerdenia (Philippines) and “sur/face” by David Taylor (New Zealand).

Ensemble Gô participated in chamber music programmes and festivals in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Australia. Most recently, we worked with NZ composers Dylan Lardelli, Samuel Holloway and Chris Gendall recording their works in Hong Kong.

For the final work of the program we are thrilled to be joined by Sophia Acheson (Orchestra Wellington, Principal Viola); Ken Ichinose (NZSO, Associate Principal Cello) and NZSM Student, Lucas Baker on Violin.