Olympian Harmonies
| Type of post: | Chorus news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Jim Fenton |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Tue, 3 Sep 2024 |
The World Choir Games in Auckland in July brought singers from around the world.
A fortnight before the Olympic Games opened in Paris, Auckland hosted an Olympics for singers. Some 11,000 of them made up 250 choruses from more than 40 countries as diverse as Denmark, Germany, China, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the US, Croatia and Hong Kong. Our own City Of Sails Chorus was among the New Zealand groups who took to stages around the city, hoping to impress the judges, or just to delight audiences with a range of free “friendship” concerts.
The July event was the 13th edition of the World Choir Games, which were first staged in Linz, Austria in 2000. The aim was to bring people together through singing in peaceful competition, and was based on the Olympic ideal – indeed, the games were initially called the Choir Olympics.
Just like the Olympics, this choral competition had opening and closing ceremonies, held at the Spark Arena, where every team, each with its own flag-bearers, marched into a packed arena to cheers and tumultuous applause. Later, a Parade Of Nations along the Auckland waterfront was a wonderful display of friendship and camaraderie as the representatives of each choir and country, all resplendent in their custom dress and, again, flying their flags, paraded with fun and great pride. The joy on the faces of the participants and onlookers was clear for all to see.
Making music is the perfect way to erase geographical and cultural differences and the wonderful side of human nature came to the fore through the medium of singing in harmony. There were kids’ choirs from Africa, seniors from Chinese Taipei and teenagers from the UK. All had worked so hard in their home countries to achieve their goal – to come to the other side of the world to joyfully express their talent in song. The gathering gave them the chance to meet many like-minded people from all over the world.
The closing ceremony, in particular, was an astounding occasion as participants, complete with their flag-bearers, and the crowded arena were greeted by a 650-voice choir backed by the Auckland Philharmonia. Songs from past World Choir Games, traditional songs from competing nations and a rousing pop medley rounded out the evening.
It was a privilege for City Of Sails chorus to be involved in such a great event. We sang in competition mode at Q Theatre and also at a Friendship concert at the cavernous Aviation Hall at Motat. In both our outings we shared the programme with visiting ensembles.
The idea behind the games is to create “bridges of encounters”, organisers say. Participation resolves prejudices, opens eyes and hearts for friendships and lays the groundwork for a vibrant and peaceful togetherness that reaches beyond music.
In preparation for the World Choir Games, we worked hard to produce a great sound. Our two competition songs at Q Theatre and four songs at the free Friendship Concert were received with wonderful acclaim. We particularly enjoyed the “home advantage” of having plenty of locals in the audience at our theatre concert.
City Of Sails have a great mixture of singers of all ages and ethnicities, from absolute beginners to seasoned singers and being in a chorus makes learning a fun process. We all learn in different ways and these are all catered for in our learning process.
We are fortunate to have a very accomplished musical director in Richard Harker and we benefit from the input of occasional guest coaches: a recent one was the renowned countertenor Tim Wayne-Wright formerly of the famed King Singers of the UK (who are well worth a YouTube viewing).
City Of Sails welcomes new members. If you like to sing (whether you think you can or not) come along and say hello. Listen and join in if and when you want. You will be warmly welcomed.
Better still, by simply joining the City Of Sails chorus you’ll enhance your health, improve your voice, develop new friendships – and best of all, you’ll be contributing to our small part of the campaign to promote peace and harmony.
A fortnight before the Olympic Games opened in Paris, Auckland hosted an Olympics for singers. Some 11,000 of them made up 250 choruses from more than 40 countries as diverse as Denmark, Germany, China, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the US, Croatia and Hong Kong. Our own City Of Sails Chorus was among the New Zealand groups who took to stages around the city, hoping to impress the judges, or just to delight audiences with a range of free “friendship” concerts.
The July event was the 13th edition of the World Choir Games, which were first staged in Linz, Austria in 2000. The aim was to bring people together through singing in peaceful competition, and was based on the Olympic ideal – indeed, the games were initially called the Choir Olympics.
Just like the Olympics, this choral competition had opening and closing ceremonies, held at the Spark Arena, where every team, each with its own flag-bearers, marched into a packed arena to cheers and tumultuous applause. Later, a Parade Of Nations along the Auckland waterfront was a wonderful display of friendship and camaraderie as the representatives of each choir and country, all resplendent in their custom dress and, again, flying their flags, paraded with fun and great pride. The joy on the faces of the participants and onlookers was clear for all to see.
Making music is the perfect way to erase geographical and cultural differences and the wonderful side of human nature came to the fore through the medium of singing in harmony. There were kids’ choirs from Africa, seniors from Chinese Taipei and teenagers from the UK. All had worked so hard in their home countries to achieve their goal – to come to the other side of the world to joyfully express their talent in song. The gathering gave them the chance to meet many like-minded people from all over the world.
The closing ceremony, in particular, was an astounding occasion as participants, complete with their flag-bearers, and the crowded arena were greeted by a 650-voice choir backed by the Auckland Philharmonia. Songs from past World Choir Games, traditional songs from competing nations and a rousing pop medley rounded out the evening.
It was a privilege for City Of Sails chorus to be involved in such a great event. We sang in competition mode at Q Theatre and also at a Friendship concert at the cavernous Aviation Hall at Motat. In both our outings we shared the programme with visiting ensembles.
The idea behind the games is to create “bridges of encounters”, organisers say. Participation resolves prejudices, opens eyes and hearts for friendships and lays the groundwork for a vibrant and peaceful togetherness that reaches beyond music.
In preparation for the World Choir Games, we worked hard to produce a great sound. Our two competition songs at Q Theatre and four songs at the free Friendship Concert were received with wonderful acclaim. We particularly enjoyed the “home advantage” of having plenty of locals in the audience at our theatre concert.
City Of Sails have a great mixture of singers of all ages and ethnicities, from absolute beginners to seasoned singers and being in a chorus makes learning a fun process. We all learn in different ways and these are all catered for in our learning process.
We are fortunate to have a very accomplished musical director in Richard Harker and we benefit from the input of occasional guest coaches: a recent one was the renowned countertenor Tim Wayne-Wright formerly of the famed King Singers of the UK (who are well worth a YouTube viewing).
City Of Sails welcomes new members. If you like to sing (whether you think you can or not) come along and say hello. Listen and join in if and when you want. You will be warmly welcomed.
Better still, by simply joining the City Of Sails chorus you’ll enhance your health, improve your voice, develop new friendships – and best of all, you’ll be contributing to our small part of the campaign to promote peace and harmony.
