When Catherine Gibson was appointed Orchestras Central chief executive three years ago, she needed to find a home in the Waikato.
“When I was looking for somewhere to live, I was looking for something with a community feel.
“The whole idea of wellbeing and social connectivity became hugely important as we came out of Covid,” the English-born professional oboe player recalled.
After several years living in a tiny Khandallah home in Wellington, Gibson also wanted a short commute to the organisation’s base at Waikato University.
Cambridge was it.
Catherine Gibson inside the Cambridge Town Hall on the stage. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
There was a connection, albeit a long time ago, when Gibson – now in her early 60s, was studying music at Victoria University in Wellington. She was selected as the soloist to play the Mozart Oboe Concerto for the Cambridge Music School’s concert in the Town Hall.
“The acoustics are just amazing,” said Gibson who says the hall today has the potential to be a satellite venue for orchestral music.
As part of the Cambridge Autumn Festival, Orchestras Central (Ngā Tira Pūoru o te Pokapū) will present three events on Saturday and Sunday.
Joshua Kirk conducts the Youth Orchestra at its 2023 performance in Cambridge Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
It starts with ‘Comfortable Classical’, a specially designed relaxed concert, creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for families, first time concert goers and regular listeners.
In the evening it will be ‘Vivaldi by Candlelight’ and on Sunday, the Waikato Youth Orchestra, which appeared in the festival last year in the hall, will perform ‘Fire and Romance’ in the afternoon. The youth orchestra held a camp at Epworth in Hora Hora Domain over the weekend to connect with their peers in preparation.
Gibson has collaborated with Town Hall general manager Simon Brew, who she worked with in Wellington and who conducts the Youth Orchestra, to bring orchestral music to Cambridge.
Prior to her appointment as chief executive in April 2021, Gibson was artistic manager and chief executive for Chamber Music New Zealand in Wellington.
From 1976 through to 2005 she worked professionally in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, then returned to central Otago and then Canterbury where her two children attended school. They are now musicians as well – Todd Gibson-Cornish is principal bassoon of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Bryony Gibson-Cornish is in London and plays viola in an international string quartet.
“Very clearly Cambridge has a strong community feel and I’ve experienced that in the three years I’ve been here. It’s absolutely charming. You just need to walk down the high street Saturday morning and it’s buzzing.”
The people are not all locals either, she said.
Gibson bought a house in Cambridge Park where she lives with Toffee, her four-year-old cavoodle dog.
“Cambridge has heritage, that’s appealing to me.”
Catherine Gibson
But she is aware of the growth challenges Waipā council faces; her commute is either through town or via Kaipaki to Waikato University with its “beautiful” campus.
“It’s a challenging time.
“The bridge situation is obviously an issue.”
She prefers to shop and support local saying because she has lived in cities for so many years, the appeal of local is strong. She loves the nearby Leamington Shopping Centre and the selection of clothes and shoe shops in town.
“You get to know the people in the shops, it comes back to community.”
Gibson is also a fan of the green spaces, the dog parks, wide footpaths and cycleways. Plus, she does fitness sessions with a small group of women who meet up outside of class, reflecting that sense of community care.
“You feel you’re in the town, but you also feel you’re in the country.”
If she has a request of the council, it is to invest in the Town Hall so national organisations look at it as a place to be.
“Art is really important. The focus on the arts tends to be Wellington and Auckland. We’re changing that between us, Simon, me and a few others.
“We’re really pushing our brand out nationally. There’s so much potential here.”
She has never played in the Town Hall or been at a concert when the fire siren has gone off but admits she would find it “off putting”.
Does Gibson describe herself as a local yet? As she answers, the group at the next café table starts singing Happy Birthday to Brian.
“That’s an exact example that it’s a community,” she says she feels part of and loves.
“There would have to be a good reason to move.”
Catherine Gibson outside the Cambridge Town Hall which she describes as a cultural jewel. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
