The Big Sing – Wellington Regionals
The Big Sing – Wellington Regionals – Press Release
The central city will be humming with the sound of young
voices in song on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 June as 44
secondary school choirs descend upon the Michael Fowler
Centre for the annual Big Sing regional competition.
The Big Sing has been a firm fixture on the choral calendar in regions throughout New Zealand for over 20 years. In Wellington it has developed a special position, with a supportive festival-like atmosphere amongst the entrants, and participation rates that would be unimaginable almost anywhere else.
Each choir will present three pieces in a 10-minute bracket during daytime sessions, including an art song and one with New Zealand or Pacifica origins. From those sets, they select one item to perform as part of the evening's Gala concert.
At the conclusion of each Gala concert, this year's Adjudicator (renowned singer and choral director Pepe Becker) will have the task of awarding category prizes in an increasingly deep pool of talent, recognising the outstanding skills of our regional choirs. And for many choirs, the focus is on qualifying in the Big Sing Finale for which only 24 choirs are chosen nationally, which will be staged in Auckland in August this year.
The wider public are encouraged
to come along and support these talented choristers as they
start what will hopefully be lifelong passions. The day
sessions will begin at 10.30am and 2.15pm each day, with a
small charge of $3 per session (door sales only). The
evening Gala concerts will begin at 7.00pm, with tickets
available from Ticketek ($16/$10 + Booking Fee).