Multicultural Summer SingFest
NZCF Nelson-Marlborough held a Summer Sing Fest for Nelson/Tasman's community choirs on Saturday February 25th, with performances taking place at the 1903 Square and the Nelson Saturday Market.
This was a free family friendly event where many of Nelson's wonderful multicultural choirs performed alongside the region's ever popular community choirs in an inclusive and supportive environment. A large number turned out to support the event and it was obvious that audiences appreciated hearing such a colourful and diverse programme of music throughout the day.
Our thanks go to Tanya Nock (Director of Cultural Conversations in Nelson) and Alvero Moreno (Choral Director of the world music choir La Corale ) who MC-ed the performances, and special thanks to the Nelson members of the NZCF Nelson-Marlborough committee: Lucy Rainey (Chair), Marjorie van Gessel (Secretary) Stephanie Trevena (Treasurer) and Rosemary Shaw (Volunteer Coordinator) for the tremendous work they put in to make the event such a success.
Performing groups taking part in the Nelson Summer SingFest included:
Filipino Youth & Mothers Choir (pictured left) - a group who sing in their own language and cultural dress.
Te Mana Hā - a group of five wāhine who sing waiata Māori as part of their commitment to learning Te Reo Māori.
La Corale, an capella world music choir directed by Alvaro Moreno.
Combined World Music Choirs (pictured left) with over 60 singers from four community choirs in Nelson, Motueka and Golden Bay: Mozaic, Haven, Inakord and Zing.
Tasmonics - a regionally based mixed harmony chorus singing a wide range of music in a capella style.
Indo Nelson Choir - (pictured at top of page with Lucy Rainey (R) and Marjorie van Gessel (L), who perform a selection of Indonesian songs in cultural costume.
Ni Van (pictured left) from Vanuatu, singing in close harmony in their own language with a tea chest bass, guitar, ukulele and percussion.
Tongan Choir comprising 30 Tongan men singing a selection of Tongan songs accompanied by guitar and ukelele.
Nelson Youth Theatre - a group of twelve talented young singers.
Plinkers ukulele group (pictured left) who attract a large following in Nelson.
