Sunrise chorus launches Arts fest

SONGBIRD: Singer Ria Hall will perform at a dawn chorus this morning.PHOTO/FILE

The Tauranga Arts Festival launched this morning with a dawn chorus featuring solos from singer Ria Hall.

The specially commissioned waiata, Takiri Ko Te Ata, was written by Welcome Bay singer and Miss Hall's cousin Teraania Ormsby-Teki.

A group of about 30 singers from local choirs and schools took to the waterfront at 7am in front of about 100 people gathered.

Associate director Claire Mabey said it was the first time the festival had commissioned a piece of music and she was pleased to see it was to be sung by such a diverse and interesting group of people.

Hall created the melody for the music, while Ms Ormsby-Teki created the te reo lyrics. The women trained and conducted the choir and led the singing.

"We are actually quite overwhelmed with the music they have made for us. It's beautiful."

Miss Mabey said the festival had already attracted interest from people as far as Waikato, Auckland and overseas.

Miss Mabey said the festival's luminarium, Arboria, had helped pique interest in the festival which runs from today until November 1.

"It's a real wow factor in terms of its vibrancy and brightness. It's really amped up our presence," Miss Mabey said.

"We know a lot of locals have gone to Arboria. They are really loving it. We've had lots of school groups which has been great. They've been able to experience something they've never seen before."

The festival will showcase various performances of musical, theatre and creative talents at selected venues throughout Tauranga, including the Crystal Palace in Masonic Park, The Strand.

"We are really pleased, having such a rich programme," Miss Mabey said.

"We were celebrating not only our people and our place but also our performers, many of whom have travelled across the globe to bring their work to Tauranga."

The festival includes shows from England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Australia.

Appearing in Tauranga only are Hannah Sullivan from England (Echo Beach, October 27 and 28) and award-winning writers foreign correspondent Christina Lamb (UK), surf writer Phil Jarratt (Australia), both this weekend, and novelist Steven Carroll (Australia, October 31 and November 1).