Clean Sweep for College Choirs at The Big Sing

The College Choirs had an extremely busy and successful day at the NZ Choral Federation Big Sing on Thursday with three of our choral ensembles travelling to the Auckland Town Hall to compete in the three day regional festival.

The Big Sing is an amazing event gathering 10,000 singers in 260 choirs from 156 schools around the country, all vying for a place in the National Finale from their regional competitions. 

Saint Kentigern College had choirs covering each category: Menasing, an all boys’ choir; Musettes, an all girls’ choir and our mixed Premier choir, Kentoris. All three choirs presented exciting and challenging recitals, covering several languages and styles, and incorporating both accompanied and 'a Capella' music.  Superb solo work from members of our College Octet were also creating a buzz around the Auckland Town Hall, as it presented a stand out feature from other choirs competing.  

Performances from Jamie Hofer, Sam Downes and Jack Muirhead were extremely well received for Menasing's performance, and one per part singing by Emily Young, Annelise Katz, Jessica Allen, Lili Taylor, Luca Heard and Isaac Samuels added a layer of sophistication to Kentoris' competition recital.  Compositions by our recent Composer in Residence, Andrew Baldwin, left a capacity audience in stunned silence, and was a stand out feature of the competition.

For the first time in College history all three of our choirs were placed in the highest points category in the competition.  Kentoris, Menasing and Musettes all received Highly Commended awards at the Gala Concert on Thursday evening, and, furthermore, will all be considered for selection for The Big Sing National Finale in August later this year.

The College was the only school in Auckland to have three choirs from a single school gain a Highly Commended, and also was the only school to do so over three different categories.  

This places all three of our choirs at the very top of choral singing in Auckland, and is an accurate reflection of the effort our students have been giving to growing and refining the culture of excellent singing at the College.

Thanks also go the the team of staff that direct and coach the Choral Programme at the College; Lilia Carpinelli, Stuart Saunders, Timothy Carpenter, Gracie Francis and Lachlan Craig.

Kentoris - Mixed Voice - Highly Commended
The Panther - Eric Whitacre
Greensleeves - Bob Chilcott
There's No Earthly Way of Knowing - Andrew Baldwin

Musettes - Female Voice - Highly Commended
Weep No More - David Childs
The Seal Lullaby - Eric Whitacre
Ah! Si Mon Moine Voulait Danser - Donald Patriquin 

Menasing - Male Voice - Highly Commended
Mary - Andrew Baldwin
Dulaman - Michael McGlynn
Wasserfahrt - Felix Mendelssohn