Chamber Choir
Giving young singers at the University an opportunity to sing in a quality a cappella chamber ensemble.
Formed in 2006, the unique structure of the University of Auckland Chamber Choir sees both students and professional-level artists performing and working alongside each other.
It’s directed by Karen Grylls, ONZM, Associate Professor in Conducting and Head of Choral Studies, who celebrated 30 years with the choir in 2015.
Where the tui sings three notes
International Tour
An exciting opportunity for the choir was a tour to Singapore and the United Kingdom in 2011. Concerts were performed at these fine venues in the UK:
- St Paul's Cathedral, London
- St James’s Church, Piccadilly
- St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle
- Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
As well as performing in the concerts and participating in University of Auckland alumni events, Choir members enjoyed visits to the Royal College of Music, the British Library, a rehearsal of Peter Grimes at Covent Garden, and other theatres, galleries and museums.
In Singapore, the Choir performed at the Esplanade Concert Hall, one of five concert halls in the world with state-of-the-art acoustics.
Magnificat CD
A choral repertoire recorded live on their international tour in 2011 was released on CD.
Magnificat contains an eclectic collection of English, contemporary New Zealand and Pacific-inspired choral works.
Included in the recordings are works by English composer Michael Tippett and New Zealand works by Andrew Baldwin and Kate Bell, both members of the choir.
The CD also features:
- A specially commissioned piece, Through Coiled Stillness, by School of Music lecturer Dr Leonie Holmes
- Si manu la’ititi, an arrangement of a traditional Samoan folk song by choir member Steven Rapana
Māori waiata Aio, by Tuirina Wehi and Tuwhiti Happy.