The BEST teen singers are coming to the Wairarapal!
Prepare to be impressed – the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir has won titles such as the 2022 ‘Children’s’ Choir of the World’, and embarked     on 15 international tours.
Performing their signature mix of culture through song, you’ll no doubt hear music you already love, and music you’re about to love!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The choir ends its week-long choral extravaganza with a concert in the gorgeous St Paul’s Cathedral.
Come along for an evening of musical delights, and see why the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir has earned the title of “2022 Children’s Choir of the World”.

Each NZSSC cycle culminates in an international tour.

 

In 2024 the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir will be touring CHINA

 

See them off at their international tour Farewell Concert in early July, and see how much our singers have grown over the past cycle!

 

This concert is one night only so don’t miss out!

 

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

TICKETS JUST $18 (plus booking fees)

Ends June 5th!

 

Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to Christ Church, the choir will present a wide range of music from classical choral to gospel, jazz, modern, and music from Aotearoa and the Pacific. This is your chance to see their first concert performance of 2024!

“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”– NZSSC singer

Bring the whole family for an evening of choral excellence and entertainment!

 

  • Get your early bird special before 14th December 2023 to secure a great concert at a great bargain!

Tour Support

 

Our flagship concert in Whangārei will delight you and your friends and whānau!

See the talent of NZ’s best young singers in a summer spectacle of choral magic.

 

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Dunedin! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to St Paul’s Cathedral, the choir will present a wide range of music from classical choral to gospel, jazz, modern, and music from New Zealand and the Pacific. This is Dunedin’s first chance to see the brand new 2023 choir!

The choir of 53 singers, selected at nationwide auditions, join for a two year cycle.

“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”– NZSSC singer

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

 

Supported by

     

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Timaru! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to Craigshead Auditorium, the choir will present a wide range of music from classical choral to gospel, jazz, modern, and music from New Zealand and the Pacific. This is Timaru’s first chance to see the brand new 2023 choir!

The choir of 53 singers, selected at nationwide auditions, join for a two year cycle.

“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”– NZSSC singer

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

 

Supported by

     

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Christchurch! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, the choir will present a wide range of music from classical choral to gospel, jazz, modern, and music from New Zealand and the Pacific. This is Christchurch’s first chance to see the brand new 2023 choir!

The choir of 53 singers, selected at nationwide auditions, join for a two year cycle.

“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”– NZSSC singer

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

 

Supported by

     

Meet the new NZ Secondary Students’ Choir at their first Auckland appearance!
There will be an open rehearsal, then an informal concert where the choir will show off what they have been working on.
Koha entry

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Nelson for the first time since 2006! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to the NCMA, 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 to join the NZSSC for a two year cycle, has had several Nelson members over the years, and this year includes Charle Rainey of Nelson College. Charle is very excited to perform in his own town and recommends you all come along! “ 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 in Nelson, especially schools kids as the performance could encourage them to audition for the choir. I’m really looking forward to performing in Nelson with this fantastic choir, and I really hope other young Nelsonians come to listen.”

Music Director Sue Densem has been with the NZSSC since 2019, through the “COVID years” and has therefore 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:

 

         

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Wānaka! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to the Lake Wānaka Centre, 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.

“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” – Charle Rainey, NZSSC member

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:

 

        

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Blenheim! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to the Church of Nativity, 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!

We are especially excited to welcome Marlborough Girls’ College choir Ovation to our concert. They will present their Big Sing repertoire ahead of their South Island Cadenza performance in August.

“ 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” – Charle Rainey, NZSSC member, Nelson

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:

 

        

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Christchurch! Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, 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.

“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”– Charle Rainey, NZSSC member

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:

 

        

CONDUCTOR - Karen Grylls ONZM

SOLOISTS - Natasha Te Rupe Wilson (soprano), Oliver Sewell (tenor) and James Harrison (Baritone)

CHOIRS - Voices New Zealand, New Zealand Youth Choir, New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, Nota Bella Junior Choir

 

From the opening chorus of the instantly recognisable O Fortuna through the ups and downs of the wheel of fortune, this is a rare opportunity to see our national choirs staging one of the most iconic choral works of the 20th century.

"Carmina Burana, with its storytelling and elemental rhythms, creates the worlds of the wheel of fortune, at certain times joyful and filled with hope, and at other times filled with bitterness and grief. The 13th century text is accessible and speaks about the fickleness of fortune and wealth, joy in spring and the pleasures and perils of drinking, gluttony, gambling and lust! “ says Artistic Director Karen Grylls, who will also conduct the piece on the night.

“This version for soloists, mixed choir, children's choir, two pianos and six percussion, was authorized by Orff and is the one we will perform. It allows for clarity and impact from our ensembles and a showcase for our soloists.”

The soloists are all alumni of the national choirs, Natasha Te Rupe Wilson (soprano), Oliver Sewell (tenor) and James Harrison (Baritone).

The evening will open with a world premiere of a newly commissioned work by ‘Compose Aoteraoa!’ grand prize winner Rosa Elliot. The 24 year old Christchurch based composer and singer has created the work Forest Song during her time as composer-in-residence at the national choirs.

This is a one-night-only performance from three choirs of rare talent and well over one hundred of the country’s best choral voices. The beautiful Holy Trinity Cathedral will be filled with the sounds of Orff’s down-to-earth, primal directness, showcasing one of the most human of all choral compositions.

 

Keeping everyone safe

  • Our choir and staff are fully vaccinated
  • 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

 

With support from:

 

   

Choirs Aotearoa NZ Trust in association with JCP presents

 

In a landmark moment for choral music in Aotearoa New Zealand, Grammy Award winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre is presenting in concert one of his most recent compositions, THE SACRED VEIL, sung by Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir.

Eric Whitacre’s works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united singers from more than 145 countries over the last decade. A graduate of Juilliard School of Music, Eric completed his second term as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 2020 having served five years as Composer in Residence at the University of Cambridge. In 2021, Eric was named a Yamaha Artist.

There will be an opening performance from the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir in Wellington performing a selection of Whitacre’s works conducted by Whitacre himself. This will be followed by Voices New Zealand presenting his long-form work The Sacred Veil, a profound meditation on love, life and loss, written with Whitacre’s frequent collaborator, poet & historian Charles Anthony Silvestri. The work was premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and released on Signum Records in 2020. This will be conducted by Eric Whitacre.

In “The Sacred Veil,” Whitacre and the Master Chorale memorably celebrate the precarious beauty of life, offering the welcome consolation of art and a momentary stay against our collective fate.

— LA Times

NOTE FROM ERIC

The Sacred Veil is a 12-movement work and the most recent collaboration between Eric Whitacre and poet/lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri telling a story of life, love and loss. Silvestri’s wife, Julie, died of ovarian cancer at age 36 in 2005, leaving two young children. Including texts from Silvestri, Whitacre and Julie herself, the intimate, compelling score tells a story of courtship, love, loss and the search for solace. Although inspired by this extraordinary and moving friendship, the piece does not mention Julie by name and shares a very human journey –one that so many of us can relate to.

Eric Whitacre introduces The Sacred Veil

 

Keeping everyone safe

  • Our choir and staff are fully vaccinated
  • There will be restricted audience numbers 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

 

The Sacred Veil was commissioned by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon, Artistic Director, and co-commissioned by Monash Academy of Performing Arts – MLIVE and NTR ZaterdagMatinee for the Netherlands Radio Choir.

 

Presented by arrangement with John Cristian Productions and Music Productions LTD

 

With support from: