Choirs win awards at festival

On August 14, more than 250 primary and intermediate school students, representing six schools, took part in the 2018 NZCF Kids’ Sing (TKS) Festival, held at Te Tihi Performing Arts Centre, Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

Two Whanganui schools attended the festival.

Whanganui Intermediate School Special Choir, directed by Roz Armstrong, gained the gold award for their performance of Weather With You, by Crowded House, complete with umbrellas as props, the gospel song I Shall Wear A Crown and the traditional prayer He Ho¯ nore. They also won two regional awards for Best Performance of a New Zealand Work and Best Stage Presentation.

St George’s Chapel Choir, conducted by Sam Michau, accompanied by Liz Newton, gained a bronze award for their medley This Is Me (from The Greatest Showman), Ko Au Te Awa, Ko Te Awa Ko Au , an original composition by Liz Newton, the South African hymn Siyahamba and Summer in the City.

The adjudicator for the festival was Shona Murray, QSM, of Tawa, an acknowledged leader in choral music. Shona led the choir warm-ups and massed festival song during the day. She also critiqued each choir via a written report.

The New Zealand Choral Federation (NZCF) ManawatuWhanganui TKS committee is grateful to the Margaret Watt Trust for a financial grant which was distributed between out of town schools attending.