Choirs Earn Top Results at Big Sing!

With thanks to Director of Choirs, Mr Lachlan Craig

The Choral programme at the College has been awarded its most successful results ever in the Auckland Regional Big Sing competition! The College had four choirs involved in Big Sing; our three all-comers’ choirs, Massed Choir, Musettes and Menasing as well as our premier auditioned choir, Kentoris. More than 100 students from Year 7-13 took to the stage in both the competition performances and in front of a full Town Hall audience at the evening Gala Concerts. In addition to presenting recitals of well-polished and beautiful music, our choirs sang several New Zealand premieres of works from around the world.  The choirs have been in contact with several internationally renowned composers who have been incredibly grateful and supportive of our students bringing their music to New Zealand. 

When the results were announced, two of our choirs were recognised with the highest level of achievement in the competition! Kentoris and Menasing both received Distinction awards. This is the highest marks category at the regional level with only 10 awarded, meaning that our choirs make up one fifth of the top tier of Auckland choirs.  Menasing was the only all-comers’ choir to receive a Distinction award and Saint Kentigern College was one of only two schools to have more than one choir scoring at this exceptionally high level.

Menasing was also presented with the A Cappella Award – for the best unaccompanied work for their performance of Schumann’s ‘Die Minnesanger.’ Most significantly for the College, for the first time Kentoris was awarded ‘Best festival recital programme by a mixed choir’ – the top award that Kentoris can achieve at a regional level. For Kentoris to have received this award is an outstanding achievement for our students.

Congratulations to all of the students involved and especially to Menasing and Kentoris! We now wait to see if Kentoris and Menasing gain selection again for the National Finale being held in Dunedin in August.