Zia Veer — Nov 21, 2023

Bel Canto is the Burnside Senior Auditioned Choir, made up of over 40 treble voiced singers and under the expert direction of Sue Densem.

Our repertoire spans the spectrum of choral music, encompassing New Zealand compositions, art songs, and even choral renditions of contemporary pop Songs.

This year, Bel Canto proudly represented Burnside High School on a national stage as one of only three South Island choirs at the prestigious Big Sing Finale in Auckland. Our year also included captivating performances at various events, such as Big Sing regionals and 'Burnside Voices,' a celebration showcasing the rich diversity of choral music within the Burnside Music department.

A standout moment for us was the immersive camp at Living Springs earlier this year, where we not only strengthened our musical bonds but also fine-tuned our repertoire for the year. Additionally memorable was our 5-day trip to Auckland where we competed with 24 of the highest performing secondary school choirs nationwide, resulting in an unforgettable experience and the honour of receiving a Gold award.

We would like to extend our thanks to Sue Densem, Lois Johnston, Charlotte Ensor and every other member of our choir family that made this year possible - Thank you for being such an integral part of our musical journey, we could not do this without you.