Two magical evenings at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre featuring the power and passion of kapa haka and the lyrical beauty of choral music. Each concert, held in conjunction with and supported by Te Matatini, will begin with a spellbinding performance from one of Auckland’s, and indeed Aotearoa’s, most celebrated kapa haka rōpū. Anyone wanting to see the very best of this wonderful art form should secure their tickets now!

Concert Two on Thursday 18 July opens with Ngā Tūmanako, much-fêted overall winner at the Te Matatini festival in 2019. The group was established to continue and fulfil the aspirations of its past community leaders at Hoani Waititi Marae. Its current leaders are graduates of the marae’s Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori – a full-immersion educational pathway established to ensure the survival of Māori language and culture.

The second half features a performance by the New Zealand Youth Choir, conducted by David Squire. Founded in 1979 and now counting many renowned singers, conductors and other musicians among its alumni, NZYC needs no introduction in this country or in many other parts of the world. Expect superb singing and a varied, highly entertaining programme!

Booking fees apply, for more information click here

Mānawatia a Matariki!

No fewer than eight choirs, five composers, three lyricists, and a kapa haka rōpū will all feature in Matariki He Kāhui Reo (Matariki, a constellation of voices), the ground-breaking choral work that is Aotearoa New Zealand’s signature offering at the World Choir Games 2024.

Devised by creative team John Rosser, Robert Wiremu and Ataahua Papa, the work celebrates the nine identified whetū (stars) of the Matariki cluster.

A group of the country’s most eminent choral composers – David Hamilton, Anthony Ritchie, Chris Artley, Rosa Elliott and Reuben Rameka – has set to music texts by Tuirina Wehi, Ataahua Papa and Māori star lore expert Rangi Mātāmua, who advised the creative team throughout the writing process.

The world première at Holy Trinity Cathedral will be an immersive experience for the audience, with the choirs (each embodying a single whetū) arranged right around the glass-walled cathedral to suggest a separated but connected cluster. Matariki herself will move in among her ‘star children’ as they perform.

In line with the importance of this event in the choral history of Aotearoa, the choirs chosen to sing in Matariki He Kāhui Reo are among the finest in the country: Voices Of New Zealand Chamber ChoirViva VoceNew Zealand Youth ChoirThe Graduate Choir New ZealandAuckland Chamber ChoirChoralation and Fortissimo.

The work will be sung entirely in te reo Māori, with narration and screen translations in English.

Booking fees apply, for more information click here

See Matariki He Kāhui Reo – Concert Two here

 

 

Come see us in Dunedin as we finish the Otago tour! Our Dunedin singers are sure to thrive as we wrap up our tour in their hometown!

Be sure to get your tickets now, and see some of your best local singers in action!

 

The New Zealand Youth Choir is coming to Wānaka!
Watch the best young singers in NZ show off their skills performing choral works both new and old.
With 13 international tours and multiple championship titles under their belt – the NZ Youth Choir is not to be missed!

 

 

BONUS PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITY:

We’ll be doing a NZ Songbook Singalong from 3:15pm – 3:45pm.

The NZ Youth Choir will be doing a pre-concert sing along, using pieces and material from the NZ Song Book!
Learn an iconic kiwi waiata with help from mebers of the NZ Youth Choir. We will have some sheet music available.

If you would like to learn some of the music in advance, check out ‘Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi’ on the NZ Songbook website.

Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi

 

 

Join NZYC in their final concert for 2024!

The New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) has achieved considerable success since its formation in 1979. Performances in New Zealand and thirteen international tours including visits to the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, Singapore, Russia, the Republic of Korea, China and the Pacific Islands have firmly established its reputation for consistency, energy and excellence.

Welcome in spring and celebrate choral music with the best young voices in Aoteaora!

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPORTED BY:

 

Pub Charity
Pelorus logo_REV 140wide
WCC logo_REV 210wide

 

 

See the choir at Lake Wānaka Centre for our first ticketed concert of 2024!

We’re excited to showcase our talents for you and impress everyone in Wānaka!

 

WĀNAKA BONUS PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITY:

We’ll be doing a NZ Songbook Singalong from 3:15pm – 3:45pm.

The NZ Youth Choir will be doing a pre-concert sing along, using pieces and material from the NZ Song Book!
Learn an iconic kiwi waiata with help from mebers of the NZ Youth Choir. We will have some sheet music available.

If you would like to learn some of the music in advance, check out ‘Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi’ on the NZ Songbook website.

Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi

 

 

 

Come see us in Dunedin as we finish the Otago tour! Our Dunedin singers are sure to thrive as we wrap up our tour in their hometown!

Be sure to get your tickets now, and see some of your best local singers in action!

 

Before the upcoming concert with the NZ Youth Choir, Gondwana Chorale and the Aotearoa NZ Academy Choir, we will host a conversation with Music Directors David Squire, Carl Crossin, Elise Bradley, Rowan Johnston, Paul Holley and more. This is your chance to dive into the music with a chance to kōrero, ask questions, and learn a bit about the process behind these national youth choirs.

 

David Squire - NZ Youth Choir

David Squire is one of New Zealand’s most prominent conductors, and Music Director of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Chair of the New Zealand Association of Choral Directors, he is also a national conducting advisor and tutor, and a governance board member of the New Zealand Choral Federation. He is also a national conducting advisor and tutor, and in 2016 he led the NZ Youth Choir to win the Grand Prix at IFAS in the Czech Republic.

 

Carl Crossin OAM (Adelaide, SA) – Gondwana Chorale

Carl Crossin is an Australian choral conductor, educator and composer. He is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the University of Adelaide. He was director of the Elder Conservatorium of Music in the University of Adelaide in 2010-14. Crossin founded the Adelaide Chamber Singers in 1985, and as director he has toured with them to Britain, Europe, North America and South-East Asia, won several awards for performance and CD recordings, and represented Australia in international choral and music education symposia and festivals. As well, Crossin and the Adelaide Chamber Singers have embarked on a program of commissioning and presenting new choral music. Over his career, Carl has conducted the Adelaide Symphony Chorus, the Intervarsity Choral Festival, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, the Melbourne Chorale and Gondwana Chorale.

 

Paul Holley OAM (Brisbane, Qld) – Gondwana Chorale

Paul Holley is a choral conductor and music educator. His personal warmth and passion for choral music have inspired many singers to discover and develop their skills as choral musicians. With over 25 years of teaching experience in schools and many years of working with instrumentalists and singers Paul knows how to connect with people of all ages and enjoys collaborating with them in the music making process.

Presently, Paul is the Artistic Director of Voices of Birralee a community youth and children’s choir organisation based in Brisbane. He conducts two of the signature choirs the Birralee Blokes and Resonance of Birralee. Both of these ensembles have toured nationally and internationally, won several competitions, made numerous recordings and supported community events. He is also the co-conductor of the national youth choir Gondwana Chorale. In addition to these roles, Paul is a workshop presenter, choral clinician, guest conductor and mentor to younger conductors. He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2016 for his services to choral music.

Experience an unforgettable musical union as two national treasures unite on stage!
Witness the magic unfold at the much-anticipated joint concert featuring the prestigious New Zealand Youth Choir and esteemed Gondwana Chorale, Australia’s national youth choir.
These two choirs of national significance are coming together to showcase their unique artistry and cultural richness in separate performances before combining to perform together.
This will be Auckland’s first chance to see the 2023 NZ Youth Choir, and both choirs can’t wait to sing for you.
Opening the concert will be a performance from the brand new Aotearoa NZ Academy Choir, an ensemble of 80 singers with the aim to grow alongside the other national choirs towards choral excellence.
Tickets available now

 

About Gondwana Chorale – Australia’s national youth choir

Australia’s national youth choir, Gondwana Chorale, was established in 2008. Its members come from throughout Australia and range in age from 17 – 26. They perform music that is close to their hearts: new Australian works which capture the mystery and grandeur of our land and display the cultural diversity of the Australian people. The work of the choir is a powerful expression of the determination of young Australians to work together to create extraordinary musical ensembles.

The sound of Gondwana Chorale is vibrant and energetic, indicative of their intensive rehearsal process and the joy of being together. The choir has performed nationally in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Tasmania. International tours have included New Zealand (2011) and UK and France (2013). In 2015 the choir formed the Gondwana Centenary Chorale with young singers from and Turkey, France and New Zealand to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign, giving the world premiere of James Ledger’s War Music with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

In 2017 Gondwana Chorale toured the USA for the first time, collaborating and performing with host choirs USC Chamber Singers, Redlands Chapel Singers, Stanford Chamber Chorale, Temple University Concert Choir and Boston City Singers. In 2019, the choir toured to England, presenting a recital in the Chapel of Trinity College Cambridge and to the Baltic States, collaborating with E Stuudio in Estonia, Koris Maska in Riga and Choras Ažuoliukas in Vilnius. In 2022, the choir appeared at Festival of Voices in Hobart to present a program of Australian works.

The choir is conducted by Paul Holley OAM, Artistic Director of Voices of Birralee (Queensland) and Carl Crossin OAM, Head Vocal, Choral and Conducting Studies at the Elder Conservatorium of Music (South Australia).

 

About Aotearoa NZ Academy Choir

 

Founded in 2017 as an extension of Choirs Aotearoa’s ‘Reserves’ initiative, the Aotearoa New Zealand Academy Choir traces its roots to the fostering of exceptional vocal talents narrowly missed by the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir or NZ Youth Choir. From its inception, the Reserves program united these singers, cultivating their vocal prowess and musicianship through dedicated training, and enriching their artistic journey with a diverse repertoire. In 2021 they sang alongside our other national choirs on a triumphant public presentation of Carmina Burana.

Drawing members from all corners of Aotearoa, this new ensemble offers participants opportunities for vocal and musical development. The singers are guided by accomplished conductors, vocal coaches, and specialists, the Academy Choir’s members also gain access to an array of online learning resources. The culmination of their journey is a year-end concert, showcasing the culmination of rigorous training, expertise, and artistry that aligns them with their fellow national choirs.

 

SUPPORTED BY:

       

A 30-minute free event immediately before our Hamilton concert, designed for audience and performers to explore the music together. Our Music Director David Squire and 4 choir members will tease out parts of the music and talk more about the composers and pieces.
Anyone in the audience can also offer their thoughts and share anything they know. A great time to be together, and talk more about music!
Free with your concert ticket
A 30-minute free event immediately before our Featherston concert, designed for audience and performers to explore the music together. Our Music Director and 4 choir members will tease out parts of the music and talk more about the composers and pieces.
Anyone in the audience can also offer their thoughts and share anything they know. A great time to be together, and talk more about music!
Free with your concert ticket