Everyone’s on song in the deep south

New Zealand Choral Federation’s Big Sing competition, Civic Theatre, Invercargill, Thursday, 7.30pm

There’s a hushed, orderly shuffle as the choir members take the stage, hearts pounding; out front, a few muffled coughs from the audience.

Then come the tell-tale click-clack footsteps of the choir director. Placing the music on the stand, the choir turns its focus to her, their only anchor and focal point.

It’s the night of the Big Sing in Invercargill, one of the New Zealand Choral Federation’s many regionals across the country. It’s the night the choirs have all been waiting – and working – for over the past few months.

The last choir to take the stage, a few members of James Hargest College’s Ancora can’t help but crack a smile. It’s a safe bet there are some performance night jitters.

The first item in their repertoire is an unaccompanied piece. They’re all hoping their tuning will still be spot on by the time they reach the end of the song.

For many members in the five competing choirs, tonight is their swansong – the last time they will perform in a Big Sing competition, the last chance they have to make it to the national finale. For others, it’s the first time in the competition and there are still memories to be made in the years ahead.

‘‘Go [insert name here], shot!’’ is among the more favourable phrases of support from the crowd and one which has broken the fragile, tender concentration of the audience more than once.

Lesley Little, Ancora’s choir director, raises her arms and softly brings the choir in; a deep, controlled breath down to their diaphragms, the bass and tenor singers open their mouths and the first notes of Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria float out. And it’s beautiful. By the end of the piece, there’s a warm and proud smile on Little’s face.

Not only have the two soloists done themselves and the choir proud, Ancora’s final, resonant chord was in tune.

Finishing the other two songs to a rapturous applause, the air is thick with the satisfaction of a job well done as Ancora leaves the stage.

NICOLE JOHNSTONE/FAIRFAX NZ James Hargest College choir Ancora, directed by Lesley Little, performs on Thursday night.