Saint Kentigern Sings As One

‘The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.’ – Aristotle

Aristotle’s wisdom that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts rang true when choristers from each of our schools came together for a combined concert yesterday. The College Premier Choir, Kentoris and the Performers’ Choirs from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools sang as one for the first time ever to raise funds for the Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church organ restoration.

Kentoris opened the matinee with excerpts from one of the great choral works, Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria.’ Emily Young, Victoria Tse and Iris Lee sang amazing solos and the performance set a high standard for the rest of the concert. During the concert, Syd Chand and Harrison Griffiths also sang solo.

The 39-strong Boys’ School Performers’ Choir then took the stage to sing ‘For the Beauty of the Earth’ by John Rutter and ‘Climbing up the Mountain,’ an upbeat, energetic gospel piece written in three parts, arranged by Rollo Dilworth. The boys thoroughly enjoyed preparing for the concert and performed the songs perfectly.

In was then time for the Girls’ School Performers’ Choir to present ‘A Prayer of Saint Richard of Chichester’ by LJ White and ‘Daughter of the Water’by Bid Collins. The audience would not have guessed that this was the first public performance of the year for the girls, who sang with terrific precision and enthusiasm.

Kentoris returned to perform the repertoire they have been preparing to enter in the Big Sing competition, which includes traditional and contemporary pieces in a variety of genres by composers from around the world.

Undoubtedly the highlight was when all three choirs came together for the finale to perform ‘Wairua Tapu’ of the Wehi Whanau and James Whitbourn’s prolific anthem ‘All Shall Be Amen and Alleluia.’ While preparing for the concert, the Girls’ School singers were really surprised how their voices sounded with senior male counterparts. This was taken to another level in the superb acoustics of St Luke’s Church and the joy on the youngsters’ faces was evident. The audience sensed the significant occasion of seeing the combined Saint Kentigern choir and responded with loud applause! We look forward to seeing the choirs perform again throughout the year and especially the next occasion when they join as one.

Click here to see more photos of the combined choirs. 

Click here to see more photos of Kentoris. 

Click here to see more photos of the Boys' School Performers' Choir. 

Click here to see more photos of the Girls' School Performers' Choir.