Wellington May Workshop

Friday 2 — Saturday 3 May, 2025
Queen Margaret College

NZCF presents the annual May Workshop, a Friday evening and Saturday full-day choral workshop, culminating in a concert performance.

This year, participants will rehearse and perform highlights from Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio, Elijah.

Registrations are now open — click the button on the right of this page to sign up.

Audience members are also very welcome. Come along at 7.30pm on the Saturday evening and enjoy! Tickets are available through the registration link.

Workshop schedule

Friday 2 May

5:45pm-7pm — Doors open – registration

7:00pm–9:30pm — Rehearsal, followed by supper

Saturday 3 May

9:30am–5:30pm — Rehearsal, including breaks for morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea

5:15pm–7:15pm — Dinner break (own arrangements)

7:30pm — Concert performance, to finish at around 9:00pm

Score and rehearsal tracks

A PDF copy of the score (with applicable cuts) and a comprehensive set of rehearsal tracks will be sent to you upon registering. Click here for an audio recording of Elijah on YouTube.

Hard copies of the score will be available upon arrival at the workshop.

Find a brief introduction to the piece below.

Workshop Director: Mark Stamper

Mark Stamper Photo 2025 Mark L. Stamper, a native of South Carolina, began his piano study at the age of three and eventually expanded his musical interests to include choral music. He has built his career on being a diverse conductor working in settings that include choirs, musical theatre, opera, vocal coaching, and ballet.

Since moving to New Zealand in 2015, Mark has been an active member of the Wellington music scene. He has worked across a wide spectrum of ages and genres in Wellington which include Inspirare, a semi-professional choir began in 2016, Wellington Male Voice Choir, Wairarapa Singers, FilCoro, Wellington Youth Choir, Wellington Young Voices, Wellington College Chorale, SYLO (Sing Your Lungs Out), and Director of Choirs at Queen Margaret College. Under his leadership, his choirs at QMC have been recognised regionally, nationally and internationally for their vocal colour and innovative repertoire.

Mark is honoured to be leading the May Workshop and is looking forward to this weekend of singing with great excitement. Elijah Is one of the most dramatic oratorios in the choral repertoire. Take time today to register for this fantastic event!