Upper North Island Cadenza bringing high standard of choirs to Rotorua

Raukura Choir in the 2021 Upper North Island Cadenza. Photo / Supplied

Twelve of the best secondary school choirs in the upper North Island will have their voices resonating through the Energy Events Centre, including the Raukura Choir from Rotorua Boys' High School.

Cadenza is a two-day competition where the 12 choirs compete against and sing with each other.

The Gala Concert is a culmination of these two days and a feast of music as each choir presents a song individually, as well as performing together in a large massed choir.

Cadenza is organised by the NZ Choral Federation and has grown out of The Big Sing competition.

Upper North Island Cadenza Area coordinator Elizabeth Pilaar says the New Zealand Choral Federation organises a huge competition called The Big Sing, which has regional competitions all around the country, and high school choirs from everywhere are welcome to take part.

The local regionals competition was held in Tauranga last month.

From all of the Big Sing competitions around the country, the top 36 choirs are selected to take part in Finale, which will be held over four days in Christchurch this year.

Then, the next 36 choirs are invited to take part in the three Cadenzas, which include the Upper North Island Cadenza being held in Rotorua.

Raukura Choir from Rotorua Boys' High School has been selected as one of the 12 choirs to take part in the Upper North Island Cadenza.

"It's always wonderful to have a local choir selected," Elizabeth says. "There are also two from Tauranga, one from Hamilton and eight from Auckland."

Elizabeth says the event is a chance for the community to hear some of the best of the top upper North Island choirs, "and with how many choirs there are out there, this is a really high standard".

This is the third time the Upper North Island Cadenza is being held.

She says last year's Cadenza ended dramatically as the Gala Concert had to be cancelled an hour beforehand when a new lockdown was announced.

"It was so devastating. We had to turn choirs back and send them home when they were all dressed up, ready to sing.

"We were relieved to have two days of awesome singing before that though."

She says the Gala Concert is a great night out because it is exciting to see the quality of the performances from the young singers.

"They have a freshness and energy that comes from young people. They get nervous for the adjudicated sessions, but when it comes to the Gala Concert they can let down their hair a little."

Elizabeth says it is an awesome opportunity to have this event in Rotorua and so accessible.

The audience is likely to recognise the music featured too, she says.

"For the students, they get to see other choirs with different music and how they present themselves differently.

"It is exciting and encouraging for them to see that there are plenty other people doing this and it is a chance to represent their school and choir."

There are two adjudicated sessions the public are welcome to attend. These are on Sunday, August 21 from 2pm to 3.30pm and on Monday, August 22 from 10.30am to noon. The adjudicator is Dr Elise Bradley.

The details
- What: Upper North Island Cadenza Gala Concert
- When: August 22, 7pm to 9pm
- Where: Energy Events Centre
- Tickets: $5-$20 at Ticketmaster from July 25