MEDIA RELEASE FROM CHRISTCHURCH CITY CHOIR

With
• Picture caption at bottom of release
• Brief on Paul Ellis

CHRISTCHURCH: 5 July 2010

Calling All Singing Kiwi Blokes

From the shower to the stage in eight easy weeks!

The Christchurch City Choir needs you – especially deep bass voices, and it’s created an innovative eight week course to transport secret singers from the shower to the stage.

Tutor Paul Ellis will take the course on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and all he asks is that kiwi bloke singers, tenors and basses, can sing in tune. He will take care of “all the music reading stuff”.

So that’s the challenge – come and learn the basics of reading music and learn how to become part of the Christchurch City Choir, performing on stage at the Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium on 18 September, with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Brian Law.

Paul Ellis is well qualified to turn kiwi blokes into dressed up strong performing singers in eight weeks. He is currently Organist and Director of the Choir at St Michael and All Angels but thousands of Christchurch people will know him from the 13 years he conducted the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival.

“We just want men who can sing the first verse of the National Anthem in tune,” Music Director Brian Law said.

“We can teach them the rest so they will be confidently singing their hearts out in our GLORIA concert featuring three brilliant works by Charpentier, Poulenc and Faure. At the very least, our new singers will extend their repertoire!”

There will be a group audition on Tuesday 20 July, starting at 6.45 pm, at the Rutland Street Chapel. No one will have to sing alone or solo.

The Tuesday night class will be at Rutland St Chapel in St Albans, which is the City Choir’s rehearsal venue.

The classes start on 27 July, as part of the Adult Community Education programme run by Papanui High School. The cost is $90.

The Thursday evening classes will be at Papanui High School, learning the basics of reading music, following choral music scores and learning the concert music for their premier with the Choir.

There will also be final rehearsals at the Town Hall on 17 and 18 September, and an evening performance on Saturday 18 September.

Upon integrating into the choir, new singers will be assigned a singing buddy.

“Over the eight weeks we will make sure they are ready to face the world with confidence,” Tutor Paul Ellis said. “So many school students enjoyed singing in the massed choirs at the town hall when they were younger, and I hope some of them give this a go so they continue to enjoy choir membership. “

The Choir wants to attract men aged 20 – 55.

All enrolments are made through Papanui High School Continuing Education, phone 362 0701 or www.papanui.school.nz

Ends

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