Celebration of the voice

The joy of singing is what brings the NZ Male Choir and the Hibiscus Coast Singers together for an afternoon of music in Ōrewa next month.

The two choirs – around 80 singers in total – will perform both separately and together, presenting music from modern shows to opera, from African American spirituals to Guys & Dolls, from Lerner & Loewe to Beethoven.

The NZ Male Choir has more than 50 members who come from all parts of the country. Conducted by Hawkes Bay’s Joe Christensen, the choir sings a range of music including classical, folk, waiata, gospel, operatic, popular, jazz, and contemporary. It has entertained audiences both nationally and internationally for the past 23 years including a number of tours throughout Europe, Australia, and Canada.

Christensen, who has been with the choir for almost seven years, says he is looking forward to the Ōrewa show himself.

“I have really enjoyed the challenge of working with the men and melding the four voice parts to produce a quality sound,” he says. “They have been rehearsing hard for this concert. Added to this, we will have Fiona McCabe from Hastings as our accompanist, who brings a dynamism to her playing which in turn lifts the choir.”

The Hibiscus Coast Singers, a four-part mixed voice choir, led by director of music Robyn Allen Goudge, and accompanied by Michael Bell, will perform a water-themed repertoire, including arrangements by John Rutter.

The highlight of the concert will be the combined choirs’ performance of The Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and featuring soprano soloist Sue Elliot.

This will be the Hibiscus Coast Singers’ first concert since December 2021, and they are excited at the prospect of performing in front of a live audience again.

The New Zealand Male Choir and the Hibiscus Coast Singers will perform at the Ōrewa Arts & Events Centre, 80 Riverside Road, Ōrewa, on Saturday, July 8, at 2.30pm. Tickets from iTICKET or coastsingers@gmail.com and also at the door. Adults: $30; Seniors/Students $25; Children under 12 free.

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