Choir is counting the beat

GREAT ADDITION; The Beatles' When I'm 64 is included in Whanganui Male Choir's programme Numbers I Love.

The Wanganui Male Choir is about to present its 246th concert.

So it's appropriate that the concert - to be held on July 3 - is named Numbers I Love.

The choir was formed in 1898 as the Wanganui Liedertafal Choir but in 1915, with a Germanic name and World War I raging in Europe at that time, the name was changed to the Wanganui Male Choir.

The choir is the second oldest performing choir within New Zealand. It has never been in recess and over the past 118 years it has performed twice a year plus one or two extra concerts in between.

Recently, the choir has hosted choirs from America, including the Pennsylvania State University Glee Club; and three choirs from Australia - the Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir, the Australian Welsh Male Choir and the Cleftomaniacs from Sydney.

The choir's guests for this concert are the Taranaki Male Choir; Trio Gitanes, a flute trio from Nga Tawa School who received a highly commended award at the recent Whanganui secondary school chamber music contest; and Lena Morgan, formerly of Whanganui and now a student at the NZ School of Music at Victoria University.

In keeping with the numbers theme the choir will perform renditions of "Three Blind Mice, "When I'm Sixty-Four" and, combining with the Taranaki choir, "Love Potion Number 9", "Seventy Six Trombones" and Sixteen Tons".

The choir always welcomes new members, and no previous singing experience is necessary. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays at 7pm, at the Jane Winstone Chapel.

Numbers I Love will take place on July 3, 2pm, at Central Baptist Church, Wicksteed St. Tickets at the door, adults $20, students free.