Our internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is heading South! Bringing our “infectious joy for music-making”, the choir will present a wide range of music from classical choral to gospel, jazz, modern, and music from New Zealand and the Pacific – repertoire from Eric Whitacre, Antonio Lotti, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Puanaki whānau, David N Childs and crowd favourite, a bit of toe-tapping Toto!

The choir of 53 singers, selected at nationwide auditions, join for a two year cycle of which this is the final event.

“The repertoire that we sing in this choir is so diverse and fresh. It’s not that choral music you’d expect. The choir is one of the best sounding in Aotearoa, and we have so much fun performing the pieces. Anyone who sings in choirs or just for fun as a hobby should come and hear us perform”

Christchurch-based Music Director Sue Densem has been with the NZSSC since 2019, through the “COVID years” and has faced a lot of disruption, including two cancelled international tours. The Southern Stars Tour stands in place of the NZSSC’s tour to Tasmania, with ticketed concerts in Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch and Wānaka, and casual performances at Aoraki Mt Cook and Queenstown.

Bring the whole family – under 12s are free, and concessions available.

“The audience was enthralled and totally absorbed in everything they heard and saw, from start to finish. … Little wonder that the audience was on its feet at the end in a prolonged standing ovation in appreciation of a superb concert where all the singers continually projected the pleasure they gained from singing and sharing this with an appreciative audience.” – Hawke’s Bay Today

Keeping everyone safe

• Our choir and staff are fully vaccinated
• There will be restricted audience numbers if the venue is in the Red level of the Protection Framework
• Audience will be kindly asked to wear masks, which we will have available
• If you have any specific questions around our commitment to keep our choir and audience safe, feel free to email choirs@choirsnz.co.nz

Tour partner:

With support from:

More info about our concerts in Wellington and Paraparaumu!

We are coming to Whangārei for the first time ever! This concert at Christ Church on the Regent will feature new repertoire, a few new faces, our signature enthusiasm and energy, and high quality choral singing.

Our 55 young singers come together from all around Aotearoa, including one from Northland, and will perform songs from New Zealand and the Pacific, kapa haka, and a wide range of music from the choral canon.

This will be our first concert of 2022 as we build up to (fingers-crossed) a trip to Australia and other parts of New Zealand later in the year. Tickets are limited due to government requirements, so get in quick. We’d hate for you to miss out!

There will be no door sales.

“The audience was enthralled and totally absorbed in everything they heard and saw, from start to finish. … Little wonder that the audience was on its feet at the end in a prolonged standing ovation in appreciation of a superb concert where all the singers continually projected the pleasure they gained from singing and sharing this with an appreciative audience.” – Hawke’s Bay Today

Keeping everyone safe

• Audience will be required to prove proof of vaccination upon entry to the church
• Our choir and staff are fully vaccinated
• There will be restricted audience numbers if Northland is in the Red level of the Protection Framework
• Bubbles will be spatially distanced
• Audience will be required to wear masks
• If you have any specific questions around our commitment to keep our choir and audience safe, feel free to email choirs@choirsnz.co.nz – Please note our office will be closed over the Christmas period

The NZSO closes their 2021 season with a concert of hope, drama and triumph.

Verdi composed the opera Nabucco at a very emotional time in his life. After personal tragedy and the failure of his most recent opera, he resolved to never write another opera. Fortunately, he was persuaded to change his mind and Nabucco, from which the Overture is derived, became the work that established Verdi’s reputation as a composer.

While visiting friends in 1868, Brahms came across a poem by Friedrich Hölderlin. He was so deeply moved by this work he immediately began sketching ideas that would become Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny). Featuring a chorus of singers from Voices New Zealand, Brahms’ Song of Destiny traverses the tranquillity, havoc, drama and mystery of Hölderlin’s original poem.

Compared to Dvořák’s more sombre 7^th Symphony, the 8^th is often seen as joyful and idyllic, although it is not without its darker moments. From the brooding opening theme in the cellos to the joyful trumpet fanfares of the final movement, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 is a work of great contrasts.

Song of Destiny is performed under Alert Level 2 conditions – capacity is reduced, audiences are required to wear masks throughout the concert and social distancing is in place.

Book tickets to the live concerts 

or

Purchase a ticket to the livestream of Song of Destiny via Jetstream
Live from the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington