At the end of August this year, secondary school choirs from all over Aotearoa gathered to compete at The Big Sing 2022. Organised by the New Zealand Choral Federation, the annual competition's climax was, as always, a vibrant Finale Gala concert featuring performances by all the choirs that made it through.
This year the Gala was held on Saturday 29 August at the Christchurch Town Hall. RNZ Concert was there in Ōtautahi to capture all the buzz, and the eclectic selection of choral music sung by talented young choirs whose ability to entertain is often matched by their wit in choosing ensemble names (see performer and music details below).
The Big Sing 2022 massed choir at Christchurch Town Hall Photo: Hannah Darroch
The New Zealand Choral Federation says, "Our adjudicators were hugely impressed with the high standard of performance and were blown away by the passion...". See the full list of awards here.
At the end of the Gala all the choirs joined forces to create a massed choir and sung a rousing arrangement of Richard Puanaki's 'Ka Waiata' in Te Reo Māori.
Sue Densem conducting The Big Sing 2022 massed choir at the Christchurch Town Hall Photo: Horizon Images Limited
Watch the Big Sing 2022 Final performance.
Audio recorded and produced for RNZ Concert by Steve Burridge with technical assistance from Alex Harmer
Music Alive Producer: Ryan Smith
Venue: Christchurch Town Hall
Music Details
ARTLEY: The Great Invocation - King's College Chamber Choir/Steven Rapana (dir)
LEGRAND arr Robert Edgerton: A Piece of Sky - Voces Luce/Mark Stamper (dir)
TRAD XHOSA: Bawo Thixo Somandla - Viva Camerata/Kiewiet van Deventer (dir)
BRAHMS: Wie Lieblich Sind Deine Wohnungen, from Requiem - Saints Alive/Denzel Panama (dir)
BERLIN arr Kirby Shaw: Steppin' out with my baby - Ngā Korimako/Michael Fletcher (dir)
RUNESTAD: Rise Up - Resolutions/Helen Charlton (dir)
TRAD arr Jonathan Quick and Larry Nickel: Loch Lomond - Cantrices/Jenny Morrison (dir)
SONDHEIM arr Mark Hayes: Everybody Says Don't, from Anyone Can Whistle - Voicemale/David Squire (dir)
DELUGG & STEIN arr Deke Sharon: Orange Colored Sky - All the King's Men/Steven Rapana (dir)
PAPOULIS: Sih’r Khalaw - Femme/Sarah Rae and Peter de Blois (dirs)
KOSTIAINEN: Jaakobin pojat - Paradisum/Virginia Le Cren (dir)
GIMON: Spellbound - St Cecilia Singers/Rachel Sutherland (dir)
BACH: Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten, from Cantata No 78, BWV78 - Cantare/Fiona Wilson (dir)
FORREST: Good Night, Dear Heart - Grammarphonics/Takerei Komene (dir)
FORMAN: The Gift to Sing - Euphony/David Squire (dir)
KING: E Rangi e - Divinitus/: Lachlan Craig (dir)
TRAD QUEBEC arr Donald Patriquin: J’entends le moulin - Con Brio/Naomi Hnat (dir)
ROBERTSON: In Meeting We Are Blessed - OK Chorale/Graeme Young (dir)
HYO-WON WOO: Pal-So-Seong - Choralation/Rowan Johnston (dir)
RIKA arr Marian Campbell: Tangaroa Whakamautai - Altissime/Maaike Christie-Beekman (dir)
CHILDS: Weep no more - Leonessa/Jacob Moore (dir)
ANGELA SMITH: There Is Sweet Music Here - Bel Suono/Maria Colvin (dir)
RAUTAVAARA: El Grito - Bel Canto/Naomi Hnat (dir)
R ELLIOT: Ojala - Blue Notes/Isaac Stone (dir)
PUANAKI: Ka waiata - Big Sing 2022 Massed Choir/Susan Densem
