The Big Sing
YOU could see the disappointment on John Buchanan’s face. He was a conductor without a choir.
His Dunstan High School choral singers boarded a bus early yesterday morning, bound for the Otago Regional Big Sing in Dunedin, but when they crossed the Alexandra Bridge, they found the road was closed by snow and ice.
While Mr Buchanan was upset performances by his wellrehearsed choirs had been thwarted by the weather, he said there were other things for his singers to look forward to.
The Dunstanza Senior Girls’ Choir has been selected to perform at the Australian International Music Festival in Sydney next month, where they will perform in the Sydney Opera House, among other prestigious venues.
‘‘We’re a bit terrified, but also very excited about performing there.’’
He said they were chosen to compete in the festival after winning several awards at last year’s Otago Big Sing, and the award for the most outstanding performance of a piece in Te Reo at the New Zealand Big Sing final.
The choir will represent New Zealand against choirs from around the world, including the United States, China and Czechoslovakia.
‘‘For a little rural secondary school, that’s outstanding — but I’m a bit biased there.
‘‘They really are singing beyond themselves.’’
Mr Buchanan said his choristers had been working hard for yesterday’s Otago Big Sing.
‘‘It’s a bit of a shame for the kids. We were really disappointed.
‘‘It would have been a good practice run before we go to Sydney.’’
But he was able to sit and listen to the other 20 choirs performing at the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday.
He said the warm voices took the chill off the Dunedin air.
And the ‘‘consolation prize’’ was conducting the massed choir item at last night’s Big Sing Gala Concert, he said.