High note for Christ’s College at The Big Sing
10 Jun 2024
College’s Schola Cantorum has won the award for the Best Performance of a piece in te reo Māori at The Big Sing Canterbury-West Coast regional event at the Christchurch Town Hall.
Director of Music Robert Aburn explains that the choir’s performance of the College waiata, Te Whakapono Ki Te Atua, “celebrates our College community, inclusiveness, our history, our successes, and our aspirations”.
“A treasured taonga composed by Te Huaki Puanaki and his family, this powerful piece has been integral to magnificent programmes presented by both Schola Cantorum and the Chapel Choir at the New Zealand Choral Federation event,” he says.
“Musicians in the audience have praised both choirs for their musical excellence, attention to detail, and overall contrasting sound qualities. The boys have truly lifted their performance skills throughout the rehearsal period. They have moved from a choir that sings in Chapel to a true recital choir and that requires a different set of performance skills.”
Mr Aburn has also acknowledged accompanists Janet Gibbs (piano), Cole Moffatt (guitar), Lucas Zhong (violin), Joshua Padayachee (cello) and Hugo Zanker (cello) following “their superb performances and for supporting the works with a strong sense of professionalism”.
Click here to view Schola Cantorum perform at Big Sing.
