CHRISTCHURCH CITY CHOIR THINKS BIG
For Immediate Release
28 August 2014
A post-quake lack of large capacity venues is no deterrent to the Christchurch City Choir thinking big with its concert
programme.
Involving more than 250 performers from different Christchurch-based performance groups, the City Choir’s next concert
Pasifika will be a large-scale production representing an epitome of cultural collaboration.
“This concert is an important step in delivering my vision for the Christchurch City Choir” says Music Director Andrew
Withington. “One of my major goals as Music Director is to entertain Christchurch audiences through creative
collaboration with other performing groups, and Pasifika is the perfect embodiment of this goal”.
Pasifika; Our Tūrangawaewae: the place where we stand, is a vibrant musical celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand and the
Pacific, involving acclaimed soloists, Helen Medlyn and Susan Densem, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, invited
choral groups Consortia (University of Canterbury Chamber Choir) and Burnside High School Senior Chorale, along with
cultural presentations from the Shirley Boys’ High School Pasifika Culture Group and Te Kotahitanga Kapa Haka.
The Christchurch City Choir is itself now larger in number following the success of the ongoing Sing for the City
campaign, which has resulted in more than 45 new people joining the choir since January 2014. This includes four singers
who joined the Choir after participating in the 2014 Choral Scholarship programme earlier this year, which was supported
by the Mainland Foundation.
Although Pasifika is guaranteed to provide a vibrant and entertaining cultural performance, there is one downside to a
sizeable production with so many performers. A limited venue capacity means that only 500 tickets will be available for
this concert in total, so early booking is recommended.
The Pasifika programme will deliver musical snapshots of New Zealand’s heritage, Māori karanga, haka and waiata, a
traditional New Zealand folksong arranged by Christchurch composer Richard Oswin, and Samoan sasa and slap dances. As a
true celebration of the Pacific Region, the second half will be a performance of New Zealand composer David Hamilton’s, Missa Pacifica.
Pasifika will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday 27 September at the Charles Luney Auditorium.
Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 3 September via Ticketek. www.ticketek.co.nz | 0800 842538.
Ticket Prices: $49 Adult, $25 Child
ENDS