Three final SingFests of 2024
2 Dec 2024
In October and November, three more regions held their annual SingFests — day-long festivals at which several community choirs from each region gathered to perform for and with each other. Our sincere thanks to the committees and volunteers who brought these beloved events to life.
Read on for a roundup of three joyous SingFests — in Invercargill, Palmerston North and Hawke's Bay — and make sure to sign up to eBreve, our monthly newsletter, to keep up to date with our events in 2025!
Invercargill, 20 October
The Invercargill SingFest, held at First Church, was a harmonious gathering of six choirs within the region who each presented a ten-minute set over the course of the afternoon. The choirs performed a wide variety of repertoire across diverse genres before concluding with afternooon tea.
Palmerston North, 2 November
The 2024 SingFest for the Manawatū-Whanganui region was held at St Peter's Church in Palmerston North, where six choirs assembled for a packed day of singing with and for each other. Taihape Arcadian Singers, Lyric Singers Whanganui, Palmerston North Choral Society, Random Notes, Camerata and Renaissance Singers performed repertoire including jazz, spirituals, art song and folk music from a huge range of cultures.
The day ended with all six choirs joining together to sing Fauré's Cantique de Jean Racine, coached and conducted by guest commentator Virginie Pacheco.
Hastings, 2 November
The Baptist Church complex in Hastings was the venue for the East Coast Region's SingFest, which kicked off bright and early at 9.30am. Choirs gathered for morning tea and a meet and greet before moving into the auditorium for a warm-up and massed rehearsal (pictured at the top of this page).
The concert segment of the day began at 11.15am, with each choir performing ten minutes of their favourite repertoire, ranging from pop to show tunes, from barbershop to carols. This year saw seven groups participating, including a first-time appearance by women's barbershop group, the Sounds of Hawke's Bay Chorus.
To conclude, the choirs joined to perform David Basden’s Ave Maria conducted by well-known local musician Jane Pierard. As singers began to depart the event, they broke out into a spontaneous waiata — which could well become a local tradition at the end of each SingFest.
The event was a great success, filled with relaxed, supportive choristers, one of whom commented that it had been "three hours of happiness!"
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