All choired on the eastern front

A young Howickian hopes her national choir hits all the right notes. Charlotte Woodfield explains.
If she can't see a grizzly bear, a first place would be great. National choir member Aimee Gray has some unusual aspirations as she prepares for an international choral competition at the end of this month.
Come July, the Howick 18-year-old will be in Canada with the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, competing in the International Choral Kathaumixw.
If no grizzly bears turn up, she says Canada's weather will be just as much of an attraction. "I've heard it's like New Zealand in climate," she says. "And it'll be summer."
It's Aimee's second overseas trip with the choir, but her first time competing. The last tour - to South America - was a festival rather than a competition.
As lead singer, she reckons the competition will do the choir good. "A bit of pressure will pull the choir together."
She's also looking forward to performing with the "exotic" array of choirs at the competition. Along with several Canadian and American choirs, others are travelling from Europe and Africa to compete.
The judges are also from around the world, but it's Swedish judges Fred and Gunnel Sjoberg who have Aimee nervous. The choir plans to perform a Swedish folk song during the competition.
"We have to make sure we step up," she grins.
In 2004, the New Zealand group won each of the three sections it entered - the most any choir has won in the Canadian competition. Choir manager Anna Bowron is quite happy to be going back. "We did well, and there's a lovely community spirit at Kathaumixw."
That 2004 result means high expectations this time around. "We're going back with quite a reputation. They've given us prime performance spots in the evening, while some of the the newer choirs will be performing in the afternoon."
Since local people host visiting choirs, Kathaumixw is less expensive than other competitions. But each choir member still must raise $3800. Aimee collected money through a combination of teaching music, parental help and a recent fundraising concert.
"Many of the members are also at uni so they have to find that [money] too," she says.
Mrs Bowron says the full cost for each student is just over $5000 but it is subsidised by sponsors such as UK-based New Zealand businessman Adrian Durham. "Without him we would find it very hard to carry on."
Aimee hopes she has the stamina for nearly a month of singing. This year, she  began Bachelor of Music studies at the University of Auckland. "For me, I'm hoping the fact that I've been training in singing at university will make the difference."
Intense rehearsals are held during holiday courses – the only time the national choir can meet to rehearse. "It's not unusual to have voice loss," says Aimee.
There will be a final concert next Wednesday at 7.30pm, at St Michael's Church in Remuera.
Music director Andrew Withington says it will be a great opportunity for Auckland music lovers to hear fine young New Zealand singers.
The repertoire ranges from church music to kapa haka. Amy says audiences might hear songs in Swedish, German or Hebrew. "If you can think of any sort of choral music, it will be there."
High school musical
The New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir has been a training ground for talented secondary school singers since 1986. Nationwide auditions are open to all secondary school students and are held every two years. The current 54-member choir has been together for 18 months and will disband at the end of its Canada tour.
Each choir gathers six or seven times for courses during its two years. These last about six days, and the choir will sing for around eight hours each day. Sometimes there are also evening choreography rehearsals for the Samoan and Maori pieces. Andrew Withington has led the choir since August 2008.