International Tour Farewell Concert

MEDIA RELEASE

TOWER NEW ZEALAND YOUTH CHOIR
INTERNATIONAL TOUR to CANADA, UK and SPAIN
FAREWELL CONCERT
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland
7:30pm - Tuesday 26th June 2007

TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir will be presenting a farewell concert in Auckland before embarking on its month-long tour to Canada, the UK and Spain.

The concert will be attended by invited guests and choir supporters. It promises to be an emotional event, as the final performance on New Zealand soil for some members of the choir, and an exciting one for the public, who will get a chance to hear some of the Choir’s tour repertoire – including pieces they will take into competition in Wales and Spain.

‘Under the leadership of Karen Grylls, the choir has gone from strength to strength… a choir that sings with such joy, conviction and sincerity deserved the standing ovation so enthusiastically given. A concert to savour indeed!’
Stephen Fisher, The Manawatu Standard, 6 September 2006

The choir’s month-long international tour will take in festivals, competitions and cultural events. The choir will participate in the international choral festival, Festival 500, in Newfoundland, Canada. They will then go on to compete in international choral competitions at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales and in Cantonigros, Spain where they have been selected to represent their country. At the Eisteddfod the choir will have the opportunity to perform in a concert, which will feature NZ soprano Hayley Westenra. While on tour the choir will also present concerts in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Barcelona and London.

For the choir, the tour provides the opportunity as cultural ambassadors to showcase New Zealand and New Zealand music to the world. The choir has been selected as 1 of 34 choirs to attend Festival 500, a large international choral festival in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. This will be a wonderful experience for the young singers, as they will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and master classes with international conductors, as well as performing every day in venues throughout the city. New Zealand music has a special connection with Newfoundland, as the well-known NZ composer Douglas Mews was born in Newfoundland, before moving to New Zealand. The choir will be performing some of his music while at the Festival.

The TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir was established to promote choral singing of the highest standard among young New Zealanders. Members of the choir are aged between 18-25 years and come from all corners of the country. 20 choir members are based in Auckland In its 28-year existence it has achieved a remarkable number of awards and accolades, including the ‘Grand Prix’ in Slovakia, and the ‘Choir of the World’ award at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, both on its highly successful European tour in 1999. On the choir’s 2004 tour they achieved highest marks in several categories at the 43rd International Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy.

Dr. Karen Grylls, Artistic Director and Conductor of TOWER Voices NZ as well as the TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir, will lead the 50 voices. Dr. Grylls is on the Board of the International Federation of Choral Music. Recently she was awarded the KBB Citation from the Composers’ Association of New Zealand and the Lilburn Trust Citation for services to New Zealand music.

TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir – Farewell Concert
7:30pm - Tuesday 26th June 2007 - Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland
Door Sales Only: Adults $25 / Concessions $20 / Students $10

ENDS

www.youthchoir.org.nz

The TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir receives major public funding from Creative New Zealand and is sponsored by TOWER Ltd & Rainbow Print. The international tour is proudly supported by Lion Foundation and the Sargood Bequest.

We appreciate the use of our correct name, TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir, in all copy derived from this media release. TOWER needs to be in capitals.

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