Choirs shine in Kids Sing

Nearly 700 primary school children sung their hearts out in Hastings this week, as part of the annual Kids Sing choir festival.

The sellout vocal competition for children from Years 4 to 8 was held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House on Wednesday, when the day-long festival culminated in a final evening concert.

Co-ordinator Ngaire Shand said the winning choir from Hereworth was a sensation with its rendition of Don Gato and Hallelujah.

"It was their chapel choir that took the overall award and I suppose it was the experience of the students that led them to win."

Head of Music at Hereworth School, Joanne Stevens, said the secret to their success lay in the songs chosen and practice.

"I choose the songs according to the boys," she said.

"If they love singing it, then it appeals to children and you can see it captures their imagination."

Mrs Shand said other notable highlights included Haumoana School's rendition of Neil Finn's Don't Dream it's Over, the inclusion of choreography such as the inventive hand movements during Havelock North Intermediate's Drunken Sailor, and the entry by Taradale Primary School - the only Napier School to enter the competition.

Hawke's Bay was the second region in New Zealand to introduce a Kids Sing competition in 2005, and when combined with the secondary schools festival, The Big Sing, has the most choirs competing outside of a main centre.

Kids Sing Awards Special Awards:

Best Test Piece Performance - St James Chapel Choir, Hereworth School

Best Test Piece Performance - Haumoana School Choir

Adjudicator's Choice - HNI Voices with Zum Gali Gali, Havelock North Intermediate School

Best Overall Choir - St James Chapel Choir, Hereworth School

Gold Awards:

St James Chapel Choir, Hereworth School

Silver Awards:

Harmony HQ, Hastings Intermediate School

Haumoana School Choir

Les Petites Voix, Iona College

Haumoana in Harmony, Haumoana School

Parkvale Massed Choir, Parkvale School

Havelock North Primary School

Maraekakaho Fantabulous, Maraekakaho School

Parkvale Singers, Parkvale School

Frimley School

HNI Singers, Havelock North Intermediate

Taradale Minstrels, Taradale Primary School

Les Jeunes Choristes, Hereworth School

HNI Voices, Havelock North Intermediate

Bronze Awards:

St Matthew's Primary School Choir

Heretaunga Intermediate Golden Voices