Charlie Wood – stepping up to conduct student-led choir
13 Jun 2025
Christ’s College Year 12 student Charlie Wood has received the award for an Outstanding Performance from a First-time Big Sing Conductor after leading his new combined choir, Concordia Cantores, at the Christchurch Town Hall.
More than 100 College singers have taken to the stage for The Big Sing, showcasing their wide-ranging talents. The Chapel Choir and Schola Cantorum, conducted by Dr John Linker, and Concordia Cantores – combining the voices of College and St Margaret’s College – have delivered wonderful performances for the regional competition.
For Charlie, the driver of the student-led Concordia Cantores, the award has been a great surprise as the group continues to evolve.
The Concordia Cantores repertoire has included Lux Aeterna by Michael Trotta, And So It Goes, written by Billy Joel and arranged by Bob Chilcott, and To Walk With Your God by David Hamilton.
The three College choirs were among 26 local secondary school groups in the spotlight at the long-standing choral festival. The Big Sing encourages more young people to take part in choral singing and strive for excellence. It also aims to cultivate the next generation of choral leaders and provide a platform for New Zealand composers.
The Chapel Choir has presented three pieces, Ave Maria, With a Voice of Singing, and Nunc dimittis, to an appreciative audience.
For the choir members, The Big Sing offers “an opportunity to step on stage and showcase our range of talents and be part of one of the most iconic choir events in New Zealand”.
They have also enjoyed seeing all the other schools perform and that all their hard work this year has culminated in great performances by the various College choirs.
