The Big Sing

Cadenza

Cadenza combines the excitement of a competitive, Finale-style event with the extra dimension of massed workshops, featuring an 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 2025 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 2025 Cadenza festivals are below:

CadenzaVenueDate
Lower North Island CadenzaRoyal Whanganui Opera House, WHANGANUISunday 10 and Monday 11 August
South Island CadenzaCraighead Diocesan and Sacred Heart Basilica (Gala), TIMARUFriday 15 and Saturday 16 August
Upper North Island CadenzaSir Howard Morrison Centre, ROTORUAMonday 18 and Tuesday 19 August

The Cadenza adjudicator for 2024 was Tuilagi Dr. Igelese Ete. Read more about him here.

See the list of awards from the 2024 Cadenza festivals.