Manawatu / Whanganui - New Zealand Choral Federation Inc.

The Big Sing Finale 2022 awards

29 Aug 2022

Congratulations to all the participating choirs in The Big Sing National Finale 2022! Our adjudicators were hugely impressed with the high standard of performance and were blown away by the passion...

The Big Sing 2022 - Ticketing and Session Times

20 May 2022

This page includes all session times and ticketing information for each location of The Big Sing regional festivals, 9-16 June 2022. WELLINGTON Thursday 9 June Michael Fowler Centre Day...

AGM and Annual Workshop

02 Aug 2021

The Manawatu – Whanganui region held their annual AGM and Workshop on the 8th of May 2021 in Marton. As has become custom for the Region, the AGM was held during the Annual Workshop. This year the...

The Big Sing 2021 - Ticketing and Session Times

04 Jun 2021

EAST COAST Wednesday 2 June Toitoi Hastings Arts and Events Centre Gala concert: 7:30pm ($20 adults, $15 gold card, $12 school students) Tickets available through...

NZCF Manwatu/Whanganui AGM Workshop

16 Apr 2021

NZCF Manawatu/Whanganui AGM Workshop When: 9:30am – 3:30pm on Saturday 8 May Where: Marton Friendship Centre, 1 Morris Street, Marton Registration Fees: NZCF Personal and ACD Members $15 / All...

Manawatu Choral Workshop with David Squire

19 Jan 2021

Choral Workshop with David Squire Palmerston North – 25 February 2021 As part of David Squire’s work with school choirs in the Manawatu/Whanganui area, David will lead an Open Workshop for choir...

The Big Sing - Dates for the regional festivals 2021

11 Aug 2020

New Zealand Choral Federation is looking forward to bring back The Big Sing in 2021. Dates for the regional festivals are: REGION DATES VENUE East Coast Wed 2 and Thurs 3 June ToiToi Hawke’s...

Queen's Birthday 2020 honours

03 Jun 2020

We were thrilled to see so many of our choral community recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours this year. We extend our hearty congratulations to National Cadenza Coordinator and NZCF Otago...

NZCF virtual choir project

03 Apr 2020

With the cancellation of many of NZCF’s major events this year, including the World Symposium of Choral Music and The Big Sing, we have been exploring other ways to engage with our choral...

The Big Sing 2020 is cancelled

20 Mar 2020

We’re very sad to announce that The Big Sing will not take place in 2020. There is no guarantee at all that the restrictions on gatherings of more than 100 people will be lifted by the end of May...

Introducing The Big Sing 2020 regional adjudicators

05 Mar 2020

We’re pleased to announce our adjudicators for The Big Sing 2020 regional festivals: Philip Norman: Auckland, Waikato-Bay of Plenty Rachael Griffiths-Hughes: Wellington, Taranaki,...

Manawatu/Whanganui SingFest 2020

19 Feb 2020

Expressions of interest are invited from Adult Community Choirs for this popular non- competitive festival of singing to be held in St Peter’s Church and Community Hall, Palmerston North on Saturday...

Choral Workshop with Rowan Johnston

14 Feb 2020

Choral Expert, Rowan Johnston of Auckland is working with Palmerston North High School Big Sing Choirs on Thursday 20 February. NZCF Manawatu-Whanganui has engaged Rowan to lead an Open Workshop for...

Introducing Emma Billings, NZCF’s new Events Manager

08 Feb 2020

We are delighted to welcome Emma Billings to the NZCF team in a new role as Events Manager. This new position within the team will incorporate the role of The Big Sing National Coordinator, which Emma...

The perfect choral movie fundraiser

05 Feb 2020

NZCF has had advance notice of an upcoming movie release we’re sure will appeal to our members and would provide the ideal opportunity for a choir fundraiser! Military Wives is directed by Peter...

NZ Youth Choir turns 40

06 Dec 2019

The New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) has just turned 40 and to celebrate, it’s holding a special Christmas concert in Auckland, Friday 6 December, before boarding a cruise ship the next day for a...

Not just an accompanist!

06 Dec 2019

Continuing our series of videos recorded at the 2019 Choral Connect convention in Wellington, we’re delighted to release Rachel Fuller’s presentation Not just an accompanist! in which she...

WSCM2020 Advance Registration closes soon!

06 Dec 2019

Looking for ways to show your choir director how much you appreciate them? How about giving them the gift of a career-boosting opportunity for Christmas? Both your conductor and your choir will...

A Kodály-inspired approach

05 Nov 2019

Following on from this year’s highly successful Choral Connect convention in Wellington, we’re delighted to release the second in a series of videos we recorded at selected Choral Connect...

Voices for the Oceans

24 Sep 2019

This month, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir is embarking on a unique tour of nine regional centres for Chamber Music New Zealand. Choirs Aotearoa Chief Executive Arne Herrmann tells us more… As...

Triple Cadenza

06 Sep 2019

The Big Sing got even bigger this year with the addition of three highly successful Cadenza festivals in the South Island (Timaru), Lower North Island (Whanganui) and Upper North Island (Rotorua). A...

Voices for Hospice

06 Sep 2019

As part of the world-wide biennial promotion “Hallelujah for Hospice”, choirs from Whanganui are holding a concert to raise funds for Hospice Whanganui. Each choir presents a bracket of songs and...

Five Minutes with... Jenni Prentice

06 Sep 2019

Introducing NZCF’s new Accounts and Membership Manager We’re delighted to welcome Jenni Prentice to the NZCF staff to take on the combined roles of Accounts Manager and Membership Administrator....

Manawatu/Whanganui The Kids Sing 2019

06 Sep 2019

Recently the Manawatu/Whanganui’s The Kids Sing was held in the Prince Edward Auditorium, Whanganui Collegiate. Four choirs from Manawatu and six from the Whanganui area took part in the...

Flocking to WSCM2020

06 Sep 2019

With WSCM2020 now less than a year away, and with hundreds of people from over 40 countries already registered, the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music in Auckland is shaping up to be one of the...

The Big Sing Cadenza - Lower North Island awards

20 Aug 2019

Twelve Secondary School choirs selected from The Big Sing Regional competitions in Wellington, East Coast, Manawatu-Whanganui and Taranaki took to the stage to compete in the inaugural Big Sing...

Hear The Kids Sing in August

01 Aug 2019

The sound of children’s voices will be ringing out in Auckland, Hastings and Whanganui this month when the NZCF regional The Kids Sing festivals are held. Details of each festival are as...

The Kids Sing 2019 in Whanganui

25 Jul 2019

Megan Flint of Taupo is the Commentator for the NZCF Manawatu-Whanganui The Kids Sing Festival, Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate, Thursday 29 August. Two Intermediate School choirs and...

Manawatu-Whanganui’s AGM report

03 Jul 2019

NZCF Manawatu-Whanganui’s AGM attracted the majority of the 46 singers and administrators that participated in the Region’s Annual workshop held in Marton on Saturday 18 May. During the formal...

Manawatu-Whanganui TBS results

03 Jul 2019

Palmerston North Girls’ High School Cantatrices scooped Supreme Award at Manawatu-Whanganui TBS on Thursday 13 June and also received the Judith & Guy Donaldson award for the best performance of a...

Manawatu-Whanganui TBS Regional - 13 June

07 Jun 2019

940 singers from 25 secondary school choirs will be coming to the Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North for the Manawatu-Whanganui ‘The Big Sing’ Regional Festival on Thursday 13 June. Districts &...

The Big Sing in full swing

07 Jun 2019

The Big Sing regionals are well underway, with Hawkes Bay leading the way on 29 & 30 May and Christchurch choirs singing their hearts out as we ‘go to print’. Further festivals are scheduled for...

What’s in store at Choral Connect

06 Jun 2019

We’re pleased to announce details of the plenary sessions and presentation topics at this year’s Choral Connect, as well as revealing the major work the delegate choir will sing at the final...

The Big Sing/Ministry of Youth Development ‘Spirit of the Festival’ Youth Ambassadors Award

04 May 2019

The Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) is supporting The Big Sing (TBS) for the third consecutive year, in recognition of the ways in which TBS festivals offer development opportunities to student...

"Things Your Conductor Wished You Knew" - Manawatu/Whanganui workshop

03 May 2019

Joe Christensen of Havelock North, the Musical Director of the NZ Male Choir, is the Facilitator for this year’s Manawatu-Whanganui workshop in Marton on Saturday 18 May entitled “The things a...

Farewell, Di Lenihan

02 May 2019

We were very sorry to hear of the death of Di Lenihan on 12 April 2019. Di was held in the highest esteem by her colleagues all around New Zealand and occupied a key position in NZ choral music for...

Song Leaders Network Aotearoa - 'Lead In' professional development

01 May 2019

Song Leaders Network Aotearoa (SLNA) is an organisation aiming to support leaders of singing groups that learn by ear, and that sing informally/recreationally or for health benefits. Their members...

Manawatu / Whanganui April 2019 Newsletter

29 Apr 2019

The Manawatu / Whanganui region elected committee 2018/2019 presents all the region’s news and information of the activities from most of its affiliated choirs in their April 2019 NZCF newsletter. ...

Cadenza dates and venues announced

04 Apr 2019

Cadenza, the ‘next best thing to The Big Sing Finale’ will be launched this August in Rotorua (please note the change in dates!), Whanganui and Timaru. Cadenza enables 36 competing choirs from...

WSCM2020 presenters and choirs revealed

06 Mar 2019

WSCM2020 is thrilled to announce the stunning line-up of 24 world-class choirs and over 40 distinguished choral practitioners coming to Auckland in July 2020. The International Artistic Committee...

The Big Sing 2019 registrations now open

18 Feb 2019

Registration for The Big Sing (TBS) 2019 is now open, as are entries for the NZCF/SOUNZ choral competition. TBS is a dynamic, national group-singing competition for secondary school students. The Big...

Cadenza coming to a centre near you!

08 Feb 2019

Plans are shaping up for three Cadenza festivals around the country this August. Cadenza is the ‘next best thing to The Big Sing Finale’ enabling 36 competing choirs from across New Zealand to...

WSCM2020 registrations open soon

05 Feb 2019

It’s an exciting month of milestones for WSCM2020! Having had 100% acceptance from the 24 world-class selected choirs, we are launching the core programme and opening earlybird registrations on 20...

Introducing Bea Selwood, NZCF's new Membership and Database Administrator

05 Feb 2019

Bea is originally from the UK, but spent 14 years living in Amsterdam where she worked as an accountant for two multinational companies. She and her partner Paul immigrated to New Zealand in 1993 and...

TBS REGIONAL DATES AND VENUES 2019

27 Oct 2018

TBS REGIONAL DATES AND VENUES 2019 Registration opens February 18 and closes March 18, 2019. Late closing April 5, 2019, late entry fee $80. Late payment fee $100 after May 9. SOUNZ Composition...

Renaissance Singers appoint new Music Director

27 Sep 2018

Renaissance Singers are pleased to announce that Christine Archer-Lockwood has been appointed as their new Music Director commencing in 2019. She replaces Guy Donaldson who is retiring after thirty...

The Kids Sing Manawatū-Whanganui

20 Aug 2018

The Kids Sing Manawatū-Whanganui was recently held in Palmerston North. You can see more information in the following news story from the Manawatū Standard News:...

Meet the Finale Adjudicators for 2018

24 Jul 2018

DAVID CHILDS David is a full-time freelance composer of music, conductor, educator, and owner of River Avon productions (www.davidchilds.com). In addition to a busy composing and presentation...

MYD ‘Spirit of the Festival’ Youth Ambassadors Awards 2018

08 Jul 2018

NZCF is pleased to announce the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) ‘Spirit of the Festival’ Youth Ambassador Awards for 2018. The awards are given in recognition of the ways in which TBS...

Distinguished Service Award for Stanley Barnes

06 Jul 2018

Stanley Barnes was taken by surprise when he was presented with a Distinguished Service Award at the Gala Concert of The Big Sing Regional Festival held in the Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North on...

The Big Sing 2018 Finale

04 Jul 2018

NEWSFLASH: Tickets are now on sale for The Big Sing Finale Gala Concert on Saturday 1 September at 6.30pm from Ticketmaster. Tickets are $30 for Adults, and $20 for Students and Children. The New...

More than 800 young voices light up The Regent for The Big Sing Manawatu/Whanganui 2018

25 Jun 2018

Hundreds of young voices joined in a day of harmony, rhythm and expression at the regional The Big Sing for secondary schools. The annual day pits Manawatū-Whanganui secondary school choirs,...

Joining forces: an excellent solution

27 Apr 2018

Recently the Kapiti Chamber Choir and Renaissance Singers collaborated in a concert. Eric Sidoti writes: “We circulated major choirs in the Palmerston North, Hutt Valley, and Wellington areas,...

NZCF Manawatu-Whanganui newsletter April 2018

18 Apr 2018

Members of the busy Regional Committee, NZCF Manawatu-Whanganui at a meeting held at Chair Roy Tankersley’s home, Palmerston North on 3rd March. Grant Hutchinson NZCF’s CE was present to meet...

SingFest 2018: Manawatu-Whanganui

18 Apr 2018

Over 260 singers from eight choirs (including two from Wellington region) took part in the Manawatu-Whanganui branch’s SingFest held in St Peter’s Church, Palmerston North on Saturday 7 April...

Calling leaders of children's choirs

05 Mar 2018

Primary Gestures are one-day workshops for leaders of children’s choirs that cover topics such as developing young voices, choosing repertoire for your choir and developing a conducting gesture that...

Manawatu-Whanganui SingFest 2018

11 Dec 2017

All choirs in the Manawatu-Whanganui and neighbouring regions are cordially invited to take part in a non-competitive SingFest 2108. Choirs may choose their own repertoire with 12 minutes maximum...

Manawatu-Whanganui The Kids Sing 2017

11 Sep 2017

A very successful The Kids Sing festival was held at Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate School, on Tuesday, August 15. Seven choirs from Bulls (pictured), Linton Camp, Palmerston North,...

The World Symposium on Choral Music 2020

02 Aug 2017

The next IFCM World Symposium on Choral Music will be held in Auckland from 11 to 18 July 2020. For more information, see the WSCM2020 website. Watch the announcment in Barcelona from our WSCM2020...

The Big Sing regional competition awards

30 Jun 2017

We have just enjoyed The Big Sing regional festivals with a record 10,500 students from 270 choirs (160 schools) taking part. Congratulations to all concerned and many thanks to our regional...

The 'Spirit of the Festival' award

30 Jun 2017

A new award given at the recent regional events, the Ministry of Youth Development ‘Spirit of the Festival’ Youth Ambassadors Award, recognises the ways in which The Big Sing offers development...

Thank you to our volunteers

28 Jun 2017

Last week – 18-24 June – was National Volunteer Week, and the backbone of NZCF really is its large volunteer force. So we’d like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our hundreds of...

Manawatu/Whanganui Workshop and AGM

18 May 2017

On Saturday 13 May 2017 our region held a successful workshop attended by 45 singers from member choirs. The focus of this workshop, facilitated by Eric Sidoti, was to develop an understanding and...

A tribute to Stanley Barnes

04 Apr 2017

In 2015 Stanley Barnes relinquished his role as the Region’s secretary. His service to the Regional TBS covers a period of 15 years as Treasurer, holding the dual position of Regional Coordinator...

Choir Forum in Marton

22 Feb 2017

A brief choir forum was held in July 2016 as part of the AGM for the Manawatu-Whanganui region. This was a chance for the local choirs attending ( Lyric Singers, James Cook School Choir, Parish...

SingFest 2016 report for Manawatu-Whanganui region

22 Feb 2017

This biennial festival was held at St Peter’s Church, Palmerston North on Saturday 19 March 2016. Representing six choirs from the region, 153 singers participated in a day where each choir...

2017 AGM and workshop with Eric Sidoti

20 Feb 2017

Planning is in hand for the NZCF Manawatu-Whanganui 2017 AGM and Workshop lead by Eric Sidoti. This will be held at St Stephen’s Church Hall, Maunder Street, Marton on Saturday 13 May, commencing at...

NZCF member choir concerts

30 Sep 2016

NZCF now has our member choirs’ concerts listed on our website and you can find them in two ways: Home page – search under ‘Upcoming Events’ Regions – select your region and click on...

Big start to The Kids Sing

15 Jun 2016

Seven primary and intermediate schools took part in The Kids’ Sing, at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School on Wednesday, 9th June, which brought together the voices of about 210...

The Big Sing 2017 dates and venues

01 Feb 2016

Here are the dates and venues for The Big Sing regional festivals in 2017 The Big Sing Finale will be held at Auckland’s ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 August...