The Kids Sing is in full swing around Aotearoa!

5 Sept 2025

We’ve seen a record number of tamariki taking part in our Kids Sing festivals this year, with thousands of primary and intermediate school students around the motu discovering the joy of choral singing as they perform for audiences of their peers and families. 

Five regional Kids Sing festivals have taken place so far in 2025. Dunedin kicked off the year in May and four more have been held over the past month.

 

Dunedin | 7 May

NZCF Otago held its first-ever Kids Sing last year with 300 children taking part, and this year that number more than tripled! Nearly 1,000 children from 24 choirs from Karitāne to Balclutha had the opportunity to sing together in the magnificent Dunedin Town Hall - an experience they will remember for a lifetime. This Otago Daily Times clip of the massed item provides a taste of the festival: 
In full voice... | Otago Daily Times Online News

Our thanks to Music Director Ben Madden, Coordinator Carole Randall, and the Otago Primary Principals Association for putting on such a successful event.

 

Auckland | 4-6 August

The Kids Sing in Auckland saw the largest number of participating choirs ever, with over 2500 children performing in 52 choirs, from 42 schools or community organisations. Held over three days at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, each choir presented a recital of 2-3 songs and each day closed with a gala concert where a range of awards were presented.

Congratulations and thanks to TKS Coordinator Maria Winder and her team, and to adjudicator Fiona Wilson, for the vital part they played in this very successful festival of song.

 

Nelson | 20 August

The Nelson Kids Sing featured seven schools from the Nelson and Tasman area. Each choir sang three songs during the day and then again at two evening performances, which were packed with family and friends. They also performed two massed items Magic in Me and E Tu Tangata, which were rehearsed and led by the composer, Kath Bee.

Thank you to guest adjudicator Rosemary Galton, who provided the choral directors with written feedback, and to Coordinator Lucy Rainey and her team, for another great Kids Sing festival!

 

Hastings | 1-2 September

350 young singers from 10 choirs (8 schools) across the Napier/Hastings area participated in the East Coast Kids Sing, held at the Toitoi Opera House in Hastings. The festival ran over two days, with a gala concert each evening that concluded with a massed choir singing Toku Reo Toku Ohooho by by Okeroa Huriwaka and Te Tāwhiro Maxwell, conducted by the adjudicator Jo Hodgson from Wellington. 

Toi Fusion from Ebbett Park Primary School entered the competition for the first time and won the top award for choirs from contributing primary schools, while St James Chapel Choir from Hereworth School won the top choir trophy for best full primary school. The Havelock North Primary choir accounted for almost a third of the participants, with 110 singers, and won an Adjudicator’s Choice award, along with Les Petites Voix from Iona College.

Many thanks to Suzanne Russell and the volunteer team for a very successful event.

 

Whanganui | 4 September

Our Manawatū-Whanganui Kids Sing was held at Whanganui Collegiate this year and featured a total of 213 students across 7 choirs from 6 schools. Choirs bussed in from Palmerston North, Marton and Shannon to take part and enjoyed working on a massed item with the adjudicator Roy Tankersley.

Our thanks go to the Kids Sing Coordinator Virginia Warbrick and her team for a wonderful day!

 

Upcoming events

Two final The Kids Sing festivalws will be held in October. If you're in the neighbourhood, we warmly invite you to come along and support our brilliant tamariki.

The Kids Sing Wellington | Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 September

• Samuel Marsden Collegiate, Karori, Wellington
  Click here for more information

The Kids Sing Waikato-Bay of Plenty | Thursday 23 September

• Southwell School, Hamilton
  Click here for more information

 

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