Choirs to bring winter cheer to Taihape

The Wanganui Male Voice Choir will present the Winter Cheer concert with the Arcadian Singers in Taihape this Sunday.

The Wanganui Male Choir will join Taihape's Arcadian Singers for a "Winter Cheer" concert at St David's Church in Taihape this Sunday.

The 28-strong male choir will open the concert with a medley of Whakarongo Ake Au, E Te Ariki, I Dreamed A Dream and Grace.

Secretary Oliver Lane said 2017 has been a year of big change for the Wanganui Male Choir with the death of their long-time musical director Judy Barrett.

"Our long- time accompanist Abigail Livesay has moved to Australia so we have welcomed a new accompanist as well as a new director."

New musical director Margaret Thompson is a member of NZ Choral Conducting Association and new accompanist Caitlin Arthur is a member of the Wanganui Orchestra.

"Margaret comes to us as the recently retired head of department of music and arts at St Mary's Diocesan School in Stratford," Mr Lane said.

"Caitlin is currently teaching piano and violin and finds it rewarding to pass on the beauty of music."

The Wanganui Male Choir is the second oldest performing choir in New Zealand having first formed 119 years ago.

Taihape's Arcadian Singers are considerably younger and were founded in 1981 by their present conductor Helen Gordon.

They are a mixed voice choir with members who come from the Taihape district and as far away as Owhango in the North, to Hunterville in the South.

Huntley School teacher Diana Coleman is the Arcadian Singers' long-term accompanist and their number includes soprano soloist Charlotte Oswald.

Each choir will perform two sets and they will combine for a medley of When the Saints, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Go Down Moses, and My Lord What a Morning.

Winter Cheer with the Arcadian Singers and Wanganui Male Choir, St David's Church, Huia St, Taihape, Sunday, July 16 at 2pm. Tickets $15, children free.