Wellington Choir wins prestigious European awards

MEDIA RELEASE – THE TUDOR CONSORT
23 November 2003 – for immediate release

Wellington choir wins awards at prestigious European choral competition

Wellington choral group The Tudor Consort has won awards in both its categories at the 35th Tolosa International Choral Competition in Spain. This competition is one of the oldest and most prestigious of the European choral competitions with choirs from Europe, England, Asia and the Americas meeting annually to hear other performers, demonstrate their own vocal artistry, and experience music-making in a fine selection of some of the oldest and most beautiful venues in the Basque Country of Spain.

The Tudor Consort gave six evening concerts and competed in two categories, presenting a varied programme of English, Italian, German and New Zealand works, including pieces by New Zealand composers David Hamilton and Christopher Marshall. The choir won silver and bronze awards in its two competition categories.

For a Wellington vocal group to compete against top European groups on their own turf and take out two prizes is a huge accomplishment. The choir’s director, Alastair Carey, says: “Taking part in this event was an exciting opportunity for us to present our music-making to a wider international audience and to learn by watching others from different nations and cultures do the same. But to be awarded two major prizes was beyond all our expectations and demonstrates that New Zealand choirs can achieve at the highest levels overseas.”

The award-winning choir can be heard in concert in Wellington on 13 December at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

ENDS

Hear The Tudor Consort live in concert

WHO: The Tudor Consort, director Alastair Carey
WHAT: Ralph Vaughan Williams “Three Shakespeare Songs”
with English, Italian, German and French sacred and secular choral music
from the 16th to 20th centuries plus Christmas Carols
WHEN: Saturday, 13 December 2003, 8pm
pre-concert talk on the trip to Tolosa, Spain at 7.45pm
WHERE: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hill Street / $25 / $15 / $8

“… Wellington’s superb chamber choir … beauty and technical perfection” – The Dominion Post

Email info@tudor-consort.org.nz
Web http://www.tudor-consort.org.nz
Media contact Rebecca Murphy (021) 610 295

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