Male Choir to sing here
Experience the magic of male voices when the New Zealand Male Choir comes to Te Awamutu this month.
Choir member Phil Grey of Te Awamutu has organised the event, which will take place at the Te Awamutu Bible Chapel on Saturday, March 14 at 7pm.
Phil has been with the choir for a decade, and as a Kiwi Welshman, loves the opportunity to be part of an all male group.
He says members from the North Island, which make up about twothirds of the 40 strong choir, get together monthly at different locations to rehearse.
South Islanders also have to travel when they can to practice together.
The full choir gets together about twice per year on average to rehearse and perform.
They were recently part of Napier's Art Deco Festival and next come to Te Awamutu.
Phil says singing in Napier's Cathedral was a wonderful experience.
He started with Te Awamutu's Rosetown Choristers and says it gave him the confidence to join the New Zealand Male Choir.
Now he is bringing the choir here for the first time in 15 years.
He says the choir has a good following and he was inspired by recent success at a fundraising event at Te Aroha — helping out with a church organ.
“We all do it for the love of music and for the fellowship,” says Phil. “Members pay their own way and also like to give to their communities.”
After being the inaugural chairman of Te Awamutu Special Olympics, and highly involved in that field, Phil had sought not to become too involved again in any organisations.
But he is now part of the Choir executive committee.
He says it means more work — but he loves being part of the group and bringing their wide range of music to the public.
The Te Awamutu concert costs $25, students and children are free, and there are door sales only.