Concert chance to relive royal wedding

Relive the Royal Wedding with The Tauranga Civic Choir as they sing the anthem used as the wedding march for Catherine Middleton when she married Prince William.
"I Was Glad" is the title of the Civic Choir's first concert for the year. With all the pomp and ceremony, the choir will perform a programme of English Cathedral Music starting with the anthem, I Was Glad, written by Sir Charles Hubert Parry.
The concert will be conducted by Jeremy Whimster at St Mary's Catholic Church, Cameron Rd, Tauranga, at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 28 and features organist, Philip Smith from The Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. An organ is being transported down from Auckland especially for the occasion. Smith brings a wealth of experience and was given the Archbishop of Wales' Award by Dr Rowan Williams for services to church music in Wales. Smith has given organ recitals in cathedrals and churches throughout England, Scotland and Wales and is now resident in Auckland.
The Tauranga Girls' College Choir, Luminosa Armonia, conducted by Stephanie Geor, will also feature.
This will be an exciting musical experience and tickets are available from Baycourt Ticket-direct for $25 adult, $10 school age and tickets may be purchased at the door on the night.
The Tauranga Civic Choir will shortly be celebrating 50 years of choral music-making and during this time has performed some outstanding choral works.
Mendelssohn's Elijah was presented in 2006 with a first-class quartet of soloists led by Rodney McCann, who brought the role of Elijah to life and took it to an excitingly dramatic level, totally captivating the audience. Gina Sanders, Kenneth Cornish and resident contralto Elizabeth Gawler, who is a member of the choir, ably supported him.
Other memorable works have been Handel's Solomon and his ever-popular Messiah.
The choir's greatest achievement of recent times was a riveting performance in 2010 of The Armed Man by Carl Jenkins; with original graphic images screened behind the choir, it brought to life the terrible consequences of war.
Musical director Jeremy Whimster has been actively involved in the local music scene for more than 30 years and his efforts to raise the standards and broaden the repertoire of the Tauranga Civic Choir have enhanced its profile. Combining talents with small orchestral ensembles and the Bay Classic Soloists Orchestra has added another dimension.
The Tauranga Civic Choir has supported rising talent in many young singers, by engaging developing vocalists in solo roles, by using young instrumentalists for some of its concerts and through providing performance opportunities for local secondary school choirs. The choir is also pleased to be able to sponsor an award for the vocal section of the Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions.
From humble beginnings in the early 1960s, as the Cantabile Singers, the Tauranga Civic Choir has evolved into a leading group of amateur singers who are committed to lifting the standard of performances every year. With more than 70 choristers, the choir looks forward to the next 50 years with enthusiasm.
If you wish to become a member of Tauranga Civic Choir "Friends" and be given prior notice of upcoming concerts, along with concession prices, please phone the manager, Jenny Coventry, on 07 574 6366.