The Ars Nova Choir and Ars Antiqua Chamber Choir present Greater Choruses.

Works from Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart as well as Karl Jenkins and John Rutter.

Tickets are available at the door.

Auckland Youth Choir is proud to present a night of superb contemporary choral music with its latest concert “The Hope of Loving”.

Featuring a selection of works from world renowned composer Jake Runestad, a modern mass setting by Nico Muhly and commissions and works by talented composers within the choir, this is a night not to be missed.

From the soaring melodies of “The Hope of Loving”, to the heart wrenching harmonies of “Let My Love Be Heard”, Runestad’s acclaimed work will take listeners on a journey that fuses traditional and modern choral sounds to create astounding results.

The choir will be joined by soprano Dr Morag Atchison, baritone James Harrison, the Jade String Quartet and organist Nick Forbes.

Join us at St Matthews-in-the-City on Saturday 20 August for a night of spellbinding choral fusion and excellence.

Cantando Choir, with special guests Francis Cowan and Fergus Byett, present Classical Romance
Saturday 20 August 2022 at 7.00pm
Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton

Cantando Choir invites you to share a special evening of Classical Romance. The programme opens with Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes, sung by the Choir, with piano accompaniment for four hands from Francis Cowan and Fergus Byett.

Francis is well-known in the Waikato classical music scene, while Fergus is a rising star, and the combined talents of these exceptional musicians will be displayed in Mozart’s Sonata in D (K448) for two pianos.

In a final treat for the audience, Francis and Fergus conclude the evening with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, scored for four hands.

This is a musical event not to be missed, presented by Cantando – a community choir of 35 years standing – and their Musical Director, Kolitha Jayatunge.

A musical miscellany ranging from folk songs to the Hallelujah Chorus.

We’re excited about our next concert

Angels Dancing — Choral Masterworks

In collaboration with William McElwee and the St. Mary of the Angels choir. This is a fantastic church choir with a lot of great voices, and it will be a delight to sing with them in their stunning church. Ingrid and William will share the conducting. The program is made up entirely of the absolute gems of the choral repertoire, including works by:

Stanford, Rachmaninov, Fauré, Rheinberger, Allegri, Handel, Parry, Wood, Britten & Lotti

Three facts you should know about the year 1863: a choral masterpiece was created, City Choir was founded, and a very special harmonium was built! And these three facts come together in City Choir’s performance of Gioachino Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle on Saturday 27 August.

This masterpiece is as fresh as ever, essential Rossini, playful and decorative. The emphasis is on beautiful vocal melody.

The soloists for this performance are Rebecca Ryan, Claire Barton, Jared Holt and Federico Freschi. The four soloists and choir (directed and conducted by David Burchell) are accompanied by an unusual chamber-sized ensemble: two grand pianos, and a harmonium.

The harmonium, for those who do not know, is a free-reed keyboard instrument that has no pipes, also called a reed organ. It was a popular church and household instrument until the electronic organ took over from the 1930s.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a live performance of Petite Messe Solennelle; it is neither small, nor solemn!

Orpheus Choir Wellington is thrilled to be kicking off its monumental “Singet! The German Season” at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre, with a performance of Brahms’ A German Requiem on 10 September. The Requiem is a much-loved pinnacle of classical music and tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Orpheus is delighted to be joined by lyric soprano Madeleine Pierard, who has just returned to New Zealand. Described as “a show-stopping sensation, bristling with passion and bitterness” (as Elettra in Mozart’s Idomeneo), Pierard is known for her outstanding vocal dexterity. Her recent concert appearances in New Zealand have been with the NZ Symphony Orchestra and NZ Opera, but she has also continued to perform to critical acclaim in productions in the UK.

In addition to Madeleine, Orpheus will be joined by accomplished baritone Robert Tucker and Orchestra Wellington. It’s shaping up to be an unmissable event.

As Music Director, Brent Steward says, “A German Requiem is not the music of mourning, but an intense, epic and romantic reflection that speaks to life, love and loss. Brahms himself said an equally relevant title for this work would be ‘Human Requiem’”.  A non-stop hit since it premiered in 1868, the Requiem’s popularity has endured because of the two-fold genius of the piece: for audiences it is both spiritual and engaging, while for performers it is exhilarating and technically rewarding.

You are invited to enjoy a fabulous fiesta of Rock, Pop and Barbershop from the Christchurch City Chorus performing under the musical directorship of Virginia Humphrey-Taylor and joined by highly acclaimed special guest Ali Harper.

Also including songs by CCC’s own amazing small groups and quartets - Note Worthy, Hi Jinx, Alfresco, Symptomatic, Aurora, 4 Crying Out Loud, Euphoria and Voila.

Enjoy one or both of these two hour shows with popular Rock, Pop and Barbershop songs.

These will be fun filled concerts and the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of Spring and some warmer weather.

Please bring some cash along to purchase Spring Fiesta Raffle Tickets and Hummingbird Bagged Coffee to aid with fundraising for new Chorus Music in 2023.

Book your tickets now for our afternoon (2pm-4.15pm) and/or evening (7pm-9.15pm) shows!

IMPORTANT COVID-19 INFORMATION TO READ BEFORE PURCHASING YOUR TICKET(S):

NZ is currently in the "Orange" setting and controlled-access indoor events are able to proceed without a limit on numbers. Although you do not need to wear a face mask when attending a controlled-access (i.e. ticketed) event, please feel free to wear one for self protection.

DISCOUNT TICKETS $35 AVAILABLE via email love2sing@ccchorus.co.nz

Please join the Sitting Room Singers for a song and a cuppa at our debut soirée.  Come along to Michael Park School Auditorium from 3:00-4:30pm to enjoy an afternoon of oldies, ballads, madrigals, classics and more. The Sitting Room Singers are very excited to also be performing alongside two amazing barbershop quartets (The Match and Unlimited). Tickets will be sold at the door (cash or bank transfer are both fine), with prices as follows:General admission: $20
Kids and students: $10

Join us for afternoon tea and chat from 4:30pm (gold coin koha appreciated). In terms of parking, there are plenty of free parks on the school grounds as well as the surrounding streets. Be sure to bring along your friends, whānau and anyone else who loves choral music for what is sure to be an unforgettable afternoon!

Check us out or contact us via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SittingRoomSingers  or email us at sittingroomsingers@gmail.com

You are invited to an afternoon of beautiful music by Schubert, performed by the Palmerston North Choral Society under the musical direction of Alison Stewart.

With soloists:

Soprano - Lydia McDonnell

Tenor - Tim Shirriffs

Baritone - Lindsay Yeo

Bass - Paul Lyons

Piano - Guy Donaldson

With solo vocals, solo piano and choral music.

Bach Musica NZ presents Durufle Requiem, Tolnay Symphony 2019 (world premiere) and Piazzolla Adios Nonino & Escolaso 

Durufle Requiem 

Tolnay Symphony 2019 (world premiere) 

Piazzolla Adios Nonino & Escolaso 

Rita Paczian conductor 

Stephanie Poole Accordion 

Elisha Hulton Mezzo Soprano 

Robert Tucker Baritone 

Both pieces by tango Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla feature solo accordion and orchestra. Adiós Nonino (Farewell, father) was written in 1959 in memory of his father, Vicente “Nonino”. Piazzolla’s tango Escolaso is equally famous.

We are proud to present the world premiere of Symphony 2019 by Hungarian-NZ composer Gabor Tolnay. Gabor is a jazz pianist and composer based in Nelson. His Symphony 2019 was inspired by his late wife Judit.

Durufle’s moving Requiem, published in 1948, is the main piece in this concert. It features two vocal soloists, chorus and a big symphony orchestra. The piece is regarded as one of the outstanding choral works of the 20th century.

Book tickets now.

Hamilton Civic Choir is delighted to bring to you “Shades of Light” - our third concert in the 2022 Concert Season of “Into the Light”. 

For this concert, we are excited to be working together with Orchestras Central’s OCT Ensemble to perform the international premier of Missa Pax, by Canadian composer Timothy Corlis featuring virtuosic clarinettist Stefenie Pickston and our very own collaborative pianist Chris Greenslade. Originally commissioned by the Elora Festival Singers in Ontario, we are delighted that Hamilton audiences will be the first outside North America to hear this beautiful piece of modern liturgical music, composed as a celebration of divine love as expressed by peace makers throughout the world.  

The second piece is John Rutter’s much-loved Requiem, for which we will be joined by the OCT Ensemble and our soloist Soprano Larissa Kent. This is deservedly one of the most popular compositions of the past 30 years, and we are very much looking forward to sharing it with you. 

We hope you will join us to celebrate Shades of Light in the spring season

Vivaldi ‘Spring’ from Four Seasons
Vivaldi Gloria in D major RV589
Fauré Requiem Op 48

Uwe Grodd conductor
Emma Pearson soprano
Kate Webber mezzo soprano
James Harrison baritone
Simeon Broom violin
Auckland Choral
Pipers Sinfonia
Sunday 16 October, 5.00pm
Auckland Town Hall
ticketmaster.co.nz/09 970 9700

Vivaldi famously said, ‘There are no words, there is only music there’ and perhaps the most recognisable of his works, one of The Four Seasons, celebrates the joy of Spring – the season in which Mother Nature brings
happiness to mankind.
He was one of the Baroque era’s most innovative figures and Vivaldi’s most uplifting Gloria resonates with audiences in ways that he probably never imagined. The text is a hymn of praise. Its score disappeared after Vivaldi’s death
and was rediscovered in the late 1920s.
Fauré’s Requiem depicts the timelessness of human existence, the procession of generations, human longings, profound sorrow, fear of the unknown, as well as light, hope, the ultimate joys of heaven, and, above all, peace.
He chose to eliminate almost all parts of the Requiem liturgy that depict hell and damnation, seeing death as an aspiration towards happiness above.

Bach Musica NZ presents Best of Bach with Bach’s Magnificat, Violin Concerto in E Major, Flute Concerto in e minor BWV 1059/35 (NZ premiere), Jauchzet, frohlocket from Christmas Oratorio.

Rita Paczian conductor

Yanghe Yu Violin 

Luca Manghi Flute 

Elizabeth Mandeno Soprano

Wendy Dawn Thompson Alto

Iain Tetley Tenor 

James Harrison Baritone 

Best of Bach concert commences with the NZ premiere of the composer’s Flute Concerto in e minor, played by internationally acclaimed Italian flutist Luca Manghi.

Choir and full orchestra assemble next to perform Bach’s most famous Christmas chorus Jauchzet, frohlocket, the opening music of his Christmas Oratorio.  

Bach Musica NZ’s concertmaster, Yanghe Yu, features as soloist in Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major. 

In the second half, Bach Musica NZ presents the composer’s famous Magnificat, scored for four vocal soloists, 5-part chorus and large Baroque orchestra, including three majestic trumpets. The ultimate Christmas music!

“It is conceivable, that when Bach premiered his immortal work in Leipzig almost 300 years ago, that the quality of his concert would have been eclipsed last Sunday by that of Bach Musica NZ‘s rendition - and this in remote New Zealand!”

Rainer W. Buhmann, review of Bach Musica NZ’s St Matthew Passion performance in April 2021.

Book tickets now.

Uwe Grodd conductor
Isabella Moore soprano
Kate Webber mezzo soprano
Tenor TBC
Benson Wilson baritone
Auckland Choral
Pipers Sinfonia
Sunday 18 December, 5.00pm
Monday 19 December, 7.30pm
Auckland Town Hall
ticketmaster.co.nz/09 970 9700

Messiah brings people such joy and overwhelming
pleasure, so it’s easy to understand its phenomenal
popularity.
In 1742, Handel’s name drew such a crowd that
audience members were advised to leave their hooped
skirts and swords at home for fear of overcrowding at the
Dublin premiere.
The tradition of presenting the much-loved masterpiece
at Christmas rather than Easter grew out of fundraisers
knowing that people’s spirit of giving to charities was far
greater at Christmas, and by the 1960s Messiah had been
almost completely transformed to a Christmas event.
Handel’s beautiful music transcends its biblical text,
embracing the possibility of hope and rebirth after the
darkest of times. Auckland Choral is thrilled to be able to
return to this celebration of hope and new beginnings…
dazzling solos and instrumental fireworks… the most
glorious choral writing of all time, this masterwork never
fails to thrill all ages.