They will be invited to sing familiar carols such as Silent Night and We Three Kings, interspersed with the choir performing acapella choral gems.
A lot of people don’t go to church now so the concert will be a chance to sing some carols, she says.
Archer-Lockwood says she always tries to promote New Zealand work and this concert features O Magnum Mysterium, composed by Jonathan Berkahn who used to live in Palmerston North.
The soloists are Briony Milne, the recipient of the 2022 Renaissance Singers Young Persons Scholarship, Alex Sinclair and Nigel Tongs.
On the organ will be Roy Tankersley and the pianist will be Guy Donaldson.
For the first time, last Christmas the choir performed in Feilding as well as Palmerston North. Archer-Lockwood says it was successful so they are going back to St John’s Anglican Church.
Born and raised in Palmerston North, Archer-Lockwood left at the end of high school. She came back five years ago from Switzerland as her parents were not well - both have since died.
Despite living in Hokowhitu, she attended Freyberg High School because of its music department. This was in the days when music was taught in a prefab, not soundproofed rooms. She says she got very good music training and remembers always being put on the piano.
Archer-Lockwood’s professional life has been as a music therapist, a chamber musician, an accompanist, teacher of piano, music director and a conductor of choirs and orchestras.
She has been the Renaissance Singers’ music director since 2019 and runs a weekly singing group for people with respiratory conditions (SYLO – Sing Your Lungs Out).
Afternoon tea with Christmas cake will be served after the hour-long carols concerts.
To register for the live stream that costs $10 email pnrenaissancesingers@gmail.com.
The Details
What: Carols For Christmas
When: Saturday and Sunday, 3pm
Where: St Peter’s Church, St John’s Church
Tickets: At the door - general admission $20, concession $15
