Tauranga marimbist Yoshiko Tsuruta is finally set to play a piece of music written specifically for her in front of a home audience.

Yoshiko was set to perform at the Opus Orchestra concerts in Tauranga, Hamilton and Rotorua in March when changes in Covid-19 alert levels meant the performances were postponed.

After a four month wait, she will play Gareth Farr's Marimba Concerto at the Made for Opus: Composer Encounters at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre this weekend.

When Gareth was writing Marimba Concerto, Yoshiko asked him to include the extra octaves her custom made marimba can play. Most marimbas have five octaves, while Yoshiko's has five and three quarters, adding extra high and low notes.

As well as playing the solo, Yoshiko is one of the percussionists for the Composer Encounters and Opus' Mahy Magic show, at 1pm on Saturday.

Mahy Magic is made up of poems and stories by beloved New Zealand writer Margaret Mahy, set to music by award-winning composer and author Philip Norman.

'I'm glad we're doing it again as it was postponed, not cancelled. With the kids' one, they're going to have fun,” says Yoshiko.

One of the challenges of such a long delay between performances is having to relearn the music, and a lot of it can only be done when the whole orchestra is together, she says.

'If the performance is months later you don't keep the piece at the same level, you have to re-practice everything.

'But by re-working on the same material, you start finding new ideas and new inspirations. It won't be the same as last time - it's a new way of presenting the work,” says the award winning percussionist.

At Made for Opus: Composer Encounters, audience members have the chance to interact with some of New Zealand's most respected composers, such as Ross Harris, Martin Lodge, Gareth Farr and the orchestra's musicians.

Each composer will introduce their work. Following the performances, the audience is invited to stay on for a question and answer session.

The programme includes Ross Harris' Three Pieces for Orchestra, each inspired by a European composer - Mahler's Vienna, Wagner's Lucerne, and Schumann's Düsseldorf. This will be followed by Martin Lodge's Pan Dreaming, featuring Agnes Harmath on flute, and will finish with Gareth Farr's Marimba Concerto.

Opus Orchestra's Mahy Magic is at Baycourt on Saturday, July 31 at 1pm, followed by Made for Opus: Composer Encounters at 5pm.

For information visit: www.opusorchestra.co.nz