Central Hawke’s Bay Concert Choir turns 25

6 Aug 2026

When the Central Hawke’s Bay Concert Choir presented their anniversary concert in June, they were celebrating 25 years of choral singing while also honouring their founder Kath Fletcher, who died in February this year.

The Central Hawke’s Bay Concert Choir began in 2001 when Kath Fletcher was asked to provide singers to join the Hastings Sinfonietta in concert at St Mary’s Church in Waipukurau.  The concert was convened by the CHB Music Society and included a pipe organ concerto played by Kath, five choral numbers and several orchestral items.  Many people expressed their enthusiasm for the choir to continue, and early in 2002, when the Hastings Music Society invited Kath and her choral group to perform at their September concert, the CHB Concert Choir became official. 

The current choir numbers around 40 singers and includes some original members. While they rehearse and perform their concerts at St Mary’s Church in Waipukurau, the singers come from all around the Central Hawke’s Bay district. They present two programmes each year – one mid-year and one in the lead-up to Christmas - each with an evening and a matinee performance.

The choir has worked collegially with other musical groups within the wider district and in 2024 they participated in a concert with the Hawke's Bay Community Orchestra, Dannevirke’s Viking Choir and the Napier Gospel Choir, all gathering centrally in Waipukurau for a very happy concert. They also sing at special events in the district, such as ANZAC services and in 2023 all the proceeds from their performances were donated to the CHB Mayoral Cyclone Relief Fund.

Jenny Cross has been conducting the choir since stepping up to help shortly before the 2023 Christmas Concerts when Kath’s health deteriorated.  “Taking on this role has been a privilege as well as a big learning curve,” says Jenny.  “Our piano accompanist Di Jeromson is brilliant, we all work together to prepare our concert programmes!”

The choir celebrated 25 years of choral singing with their June 2026 concerts. The programme was titled “Wings” and was a varied programme of favorites, such as Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, Blue Skies, Space Oddity, Mull of Kintyre and Flight by Craig Carnelia among others.  They also did a fun version of Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, complete with swanee whistle and audience participation.   “We always include items and instrumental accompaniments to add variety to our programme,” says Jenny Cross. “As well as choral singing, choir members sang solos and duets, played flute, guitar, oboe and ukuleles.  Our close harmony group Accord performed Yellow Bird and Bird Dog and our recorder consort played Riding in Rotten Row and A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square.” 

To celebrate the anniversary, the choir hosted an afternoon tea after the two concerts.  “We sorted music, enjoyed social time with current and former members, sang along with Accord and shared sandwiches and a beautiful birthday cake,” says Jenny.  “We take a break now until September when rehearsals begin for our Christmas Concerts.” 

_{L-R Foundation members: Jill Jensen, Anne Jensen and Gay Reid}

The choir’s founder and long-time Musical Director, Kath Fletcher died in February and Jenny says that this concert was an acknowledgement and tribute to Kath’s musical legacy.  “Our second to last number was, On Wings of Song by Gwyneth Walker & Caroline Goodenough.  This beautiful and moving choral composition was a fitting tribute to Kath and her years of dedicated musical contribution, both with the choir and at St Mary’s.” 

Kath was the chief organist and choir director at St Mary’s. She was a talented organist and many of the concerts by the CHB Concert Choir included a work for organ. In 2024 she was quoted in the local newspaper as saying “Singing together is good for the soul. It is good for so many things.” This belief is at the heart of the all-comers choir she led for nearly 25 years, embracing and serving the Central Hawke’s Bay region.

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