SingDownunder and the Christchurch Earthquake

At 1pm (NZT) on Tuesday February 22nd Christchurch city centre was partially destroyed by a shallow earthquake almost directly underneath it.  There is substantial loss of life and many major and historic buildings in the centre of town are partly or wholly destroyed.  The destruction includes two of the beautiful choral venues, the Anglican Cathedral in Cathedral Square  and the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament that we sang in last year.

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Pokarekareana, from “The Front Row Choir”

Pokarekareana is a Maori love song.  It is anthemic in New Zealand and widely know internationally thanks to Dame Kiri te Kanawa, and Hayley Westenra.  It is claimed by different regional Maori groups by inclusion of their local placenames.  In this unusual presentation the Front Row Choir sings both in Maori and in English.

The Front Row Choir is a boys choir, from prominent choral school Aorere College.  The “Front Row” of their name is a set of positions in a rugby team.  The boys wear their rugby uniform when performing on stage.   They are ably directed by student William Pati.

The Front Row choir was clearly the crowd favourite at the festival and awarded as such.  They moved beautifully with their songs,  they sang with obvious power, and they were boys.

Andrew Wailes and the RMPC performing the Haydn Mass for Peace

April Chor gets into the swing

Andrew Wailes & the Melbourne Philharmonic Choir

Marian Bisset & the Australian Rosny Children’s Choir

David Hamilton rehearsing Vivaldi with Scola

Sue Elliott Warms Up St Mary’s Scola