Singing is taking them places
Two high school students’ singing voices are carrying them all the way to Hong Kong, where they will perform at the World Choir Festival. Palmerston North Boys’ High School’s Carson Taare and Robin Park are part of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, an auditioned group with about 60 members from all over New Zealand. Robin, who is 16, said he was excited about going overseas and sharing some of their culture with students from all over the world. ‘‘The fact that I will be doing what I love to do in China, where I have never been before, and singing with all these talented people while being able to see a part of the world because of it is just a blessing, really.’’ Carson, also 16, said the exciting part of their trip for him will be the Belt and Road World Choir Festival that runs for five days. The choir will be singing several times during the festival, while also leading workshops in New Zealand music. ‘‘There will be a really different variety of musical combinations and types of performances and it will be cool to see what other people are doing and to learn from that and use it to improve myself,’’ Carson said. The choir will work with Wah Yan College Kowloon Boys’ Choir on a newly commissioned piece by New Zealand composer David Hamilton and the Hong Kong Baptist University Choir will also join them for the international premier of the song at the farewell concert. Robin and Carson said the choir was a big commitment, with high expectations. At the end of their three-week trip the choir will fly to Shanghai where they will perform at NZ Central, the public space for the consulate-general for New Zealand in Shanghai.