The Kids Sing in Full Voice
6 Nov 2026
The sound of children’s voices recently rang out in Wellington and Waikato, with two Kids Sing festivals involving more than a thousand keen young singers.
The festivals showcased the talent and hard work of primary school choirs, and fostered a love of singing among the next generation of choral musicians.
Close to 900 young singers from 24 choirs took part in the Wellington Kids Sing. They represented 11 primary and intermediate schools and the community choir Wellington Young Voices. Spread over two days, it was the biggest Kids Sing staged so far in Wellington.
Event Co-ordinator Jenny Gould summed up the importance of events like The Kids Sing, saying: “In a time of the need for the arts and social connection, singing together, sharing experiences and being part of something bigger than oneself is vital for young people. This needs to be done in a secure, creative and safe environment where students are encouraged to explore music and cultures different to themselves. The joy of sharing and learning music together, having fun and positively encouraging children to find their voice, is so important.”
A huge thank you to festival coordinator Jenny Gould for bringing it all together, to Samuel Marsden Collegiate for once again hosting the event, and to Michael Stewart for providing thoughtful, constructive feedback to all the participating choirs.
One Wellington Kids Sing choir director wrote, "These festivals provide a wonderful opportunity for tamariki to come together, share their love of music, and experience the joy of choral singing in a supportive and inspiring environment. They play an important role in nurturing the next generation of singers and fostering a lifelong appreciation of music."
The final Kids Sing for 2026 took place at Southwell School, in Hamilton. Like Wellington, 11 schools and a community choir – the Tron Songsters – performed in a total of 15 choirs. The repertoire presented was wide-ranging, with many waiata Māori, folk songs and arrangements of pieces by popular artists such as Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Coldplay.
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Kids Sing included a competitive element, with adjudicator Dr Anna Leese allocating awards and writing reports for all the choirs. The day ended with a 'massed sing' bringing all the choirs together.
Our grateful thanks go to our Waikato Kids Sing Coordinator, Julia McIntyre, for managing the event, and to Southwell School for hosting the festival.
