"Outstanding Recital Performance by a Treble Voice Choir" and the "University of Canterbury School of Music Award for Best Overall Performance of a New Zealand Work" awarded to our Cantrices.

On the 7th of June, Cantrices competed and performed alongside 27 choirs from 15 schools from across Canterbury and the West Coast, at the Big Sing Choral Festival held at the Christchurch Town Hall. This was the first time that the competition was held at the Town Hall since the earthquakes, so it was great for everyone to have the opportunity to sing there again. 

Each choir is required to sing a New Zealand work, a classical work, and an ‘other styles’ work, which could include world music, folk songs, and modern music. Cantrices performed “I Am Not Yours” by New Zealand composer David Childs, “Spaseniye Sodelal” (translates to “Salvation is Created”) by Pavel Chesnokov, and “J’Entends Le Moulin” (translates to “I Hear the Millwheel”), a traditional French-Canadian piece arranged by Donald Patriquin. At the end of the competition and awards, over 1000 singers sang a mass choir song entitled “Aroha Otautahi”, which was composed by the adjudicator, Robert Wiremu.

After many hours of hard work and dedication and a brilliant performance, the Cantrices were presented with two awards; Outstanding Recital Performance by a Treble Voice Choir and the University of Canterbury School of Music Award for Best Overall Performance of a New Zealand Work. Congratulations to the choir for an outstanding achievement, and a huge thank you to Miss Morrison and Miss Tinworth for all of their undeniable hard work and effort that they have put into our choir. We are incredibly grateful for it!