Cadenza
Cadenza combines the excitement of a competitive, Finale-style event with the extra dimension of massed workshops, featuring a nationally or internationally-recognised choral specialist who also acts as adjudicator. These two-day events, which involve a total of 36 choirs from across New Zealand, culminate in a public gala concert where all choirs at the festival showcase an item from their Cadenza repertoire and sing together music prepared with our adjudicator. The 2026 Cadenza festivals will take place in three centres – one in the South Island, one in the lower North Island and one in the upper North Island – with 12 choirs in each. Those invited to attend Cadenza are the 12 choirs from their area ranked immediately below those selected for Finale, with a limit of one choir per school.
The dates for the 2026 Cadenza festivals are below:
| Cadenza | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lower North Island Cadenza | Royal Whanganui Opera House, WHANGANUI | Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 August |
| Upper North Island Cadenza | Sir Howard Morrison Centre, ROTORUA | Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 August |
| South Island Cadenza | Craighead Diocesan and Sacred Heart Basilica (Gala), TIMARU | Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August |
Set piece
The set piece for the 2026 Cadenza festivals will be Scarborough Fair. This will be one of four pieces performed by each choir during the festival, and will also serve as one of the two massed items at the gala concert. The other massed item for 2026 will be E Te Tarakihi, and this will be taught during the workshops.
Click here for more information about the Cadenza set piece, including scores, sound files, arranger's notes and more.
The Cadenza adjudicator for 2026 is Brent Stewart
Click here to see the choirs selected for Cadenza and Finale 2025
See the list of awards from the 2025 Cadenza festivals
