Preparing for a visit of NZ male choir

Chairman of The New Zealand Male Choir’s North Island section Ray Seymour (left), and his wife Carol, visited Gisborne to meet with Gisborne Choral Society musical director Gavin Maclean (centre) and to arrange accommodation for the all-male choir when the ensemble performs in Gisborne later this year. Picture by Liam Clayton

The New Zealand Male Choir is not due to perform in Gisborne until October, but the ensemble’s northern section chairman Ray Seymour visited the city this week to arrange accommodation for the choir’s 25 to 30 singers and partners.

As an ensemble of two halves, choir members rehearse in the North and South Islands. The full choir meets to rehearse and perform two to three times a year. Rehearsals are held throughout the country to even out travel and accommodation expenses for members.

“Most regional choirs have their year set out, so we work in with their planning,” says Mr Seymour.

“We practise from 10am on the Saturday and all Sunday morning from 8.30am. We don’t mind if a small number of people pop in to see how we’re going.”

That “small number” blew out to more than 150 during the full choir’s weekend practice at a Mount Maunganui retirement village.

The choir has toured internationally. It differs from regional choirs who decide on a repertoire and work towards performing it. The New Zealand Male Choir has a repertoire of 30 to 40 songs to select from for performance and will learn new pieces for the Gisborne concert.

“We are a group of men who love to sing. I feel sorry for “male-dom” in that more men are not involved in singing,” says Mr Seymour.

“Singing, for me, is the greatest way to get out of depression. It’s an uplifting thing that makes you feel good.”

Everyone can sing to some degree, he says.

“Singing is a natural, bodily function,” agrees Gisborne Choral Society musical director Gavin Maclean.

The Gisborne Choral Society welcomes new members, he says.