A Community of Choirs: Nelson's SingFest
On Saturday February 24th, NZCF Te Tau Ihu/Nelson-Marlborough held their annual Summer SingFest, a vibrant celebration of group singing from around the region.
Throughout the day, ten community choirs shared their music with each other and their audiences across two venues – 1903 Square and Kirby Lane. Though rain was forecast for midday, it politely held off until the evening, allowing each group their moment in the sun.
The choirs demonstrated the diversity of music-making in the region, from the Nelson Youth Theatre ensemble to the ‘Young at Heart’-style choir Off Your Rockers; from La Corale, a Spanish-influenced choir (pictured above) to the Indo Nelson Choir, who perform Indonesian songs in cultural costume.
The Kirby Lane venue, a food truck market with outdoor seating, was a new addition to the Nelson SingFest this year. The more intimate setting worked perfectly, both for the smaller choirs and for the audience, who enjoyed the music over brunch and coffee.
Read on for pictures and details of the choirs involved. NZCF Te Tau Ihu/Nelson-Marlborough is grateful to Nelson City Council for their generous support of this event through the Shape Nelson grant.
Combined World Music Choirs brought together members of various community choirs from Te Tau Ihu: Mosaic and Haven from Nelson, Zing from Golden Bay, and Inakord from the Riverside Community.
Te Mana Hā, a multiethnic group of wāhine who are committed to learning waiata Māori as a way of sharing the beauty of te reo Māori within the community.
The Nelson Male Voice Choir, which gives concerts several times a year and leads the singing at civic occasions such as Anzac Day.
Off Your Rockers, a 'Young at Heart'-style choir whose only prerequisite for membership is the right to own a gold card!
Tasmonics, a mixed a cappella group that sings a range of repertoire in 4-part harmony.
Nelson Civic Choir which, with a 160-year history, is one of Aotearoa's longest-running choirs. The choir puts on three major productions each year, ranging from classical to contemporary, opera to oratorio.
Nelson Bays Harmony Chorus, an a cappella women's choir who sing in the barbershop style.
The Indo Nelson Choir, who perform Indonesian songs in cultural costume.
A group of performers from Nelson Youth Theatre at the Kirby Lane venue.
The audience at Kirby Lane.
The Summer SingFest Team. Left to right: Marjorie van Gessell (coordinator), Herman van Gessell, Lucy Rainey (Chair, NZCF Nelson-Marlborough), Stephanie Trevena (volunteer support), Tanya Nock (MC at 1903 Square), Rosemary Shaw (volunteer support), and Bill Rainey. Not pictured: Helen Leighs (treasurer).
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