Performers at The Big Sing Finale Gala Concert 2023. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
The Big Sing Finale showcases more than 800 talented young singers across three days of competitive recitals in a vibrant celebration of youth and song. Twenty-four of New Zealand's top secondary school choirs perform a wide range of musical styles, from waiata to classical, gospel, jazz and pop.
Fortissimo - He Waiata Matariki (Davies arr Moore)
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Saints Alive - Le Ua Fou Le Matagi (Rapana)
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Resolutions - I am not Yours (David N. Childs)
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Takapuna Grammar School Chorale - Ay, Ay, Ay, O-Pag Ibig! (Trad Tagalog arr Hernandez)
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Femme - Kihikihi (Mohi, Coleman arr Buchanan-Hanify)
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Grammarphonics - Good Old A Cappella (Carter arr Sharon, Raugh)
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Voces Luce - Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down (Ivory, Caldwell)
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Choralation - I te Timatanga (Wehi whānau)
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The Centennial Choir - Dirait-on (Lauridsen)
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Paradisum - There Will Be Soft Rains (Memley)
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Con Anima - Hol' You Han' (Jamaican folksong arr Rardin)
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St Cecilia Singers - True Colours (Steinberg, Kelly arr Brent)
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Voicemale - Mack the Knife (Weill, Brecht arr Hayes)
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Leonessa - Fakateretere (Trad Tuamotu Imene arr Taruia-Pora)
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Euphony - Come un sacchetto (Hyun Kook)
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Rāwhiti - Lo'u Fesoasoani (Tupa'i)
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Cantare - She Weeps over Rahoon (Whitacre)
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Rewaken Polycation Choir - Mamani 'oku Faka'ofa (Trad Tongan arr Vuna)
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Altissime - Mihi (Hamilton)
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Bel Canto - Jaakobin Pojat (Kostiainen)
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Ngā Korimako - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park (Lehrer arr Fletcher)
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Bel Suono - Ritmo (Davison)
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Kentoris - Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia (Brunner)
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Blue Notes - Water Fountain (Brenner, Garbus arr Fulton)
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FINALE 2023 AWARDS (listed alphabetically by choir)
| CHOIR | SCHOOL | AWARD |
|---|---|---|
| Altissime | Samuel Marsden Collegiate School | GOLD |
| Bel Canto | Burnside High School | GOLD |
| Bel Suono | Waikato Diocesan School for Girls | SILVER |
| Blue Notes | Tawa College | GOLD |
| Cantare | Westlake Girls' High School | GOLD |
| The Centennial Choir | Mt Albert Grammar School | GOLD |
| Choralation | Westlake Girls'/Westlake Boys' High Schools | GOLD |
| Con Anima | St Patrick's College | BRONZE |
| Euphony | Kristin School | GOLD |
| Femme | Southland Girls' High School | BRONZE |
| Fortissimo | Dilworth School | SILVER |
| Grammarphonics | Auckland Grammar School | BRONZE |
| Kentoris | St Kentigern College | SILVER |
| Leonessa | Takapuna Grammar School | GOLD |
| Ngā Korimako | Wellington Girls' College/Wellington College | SILVER |
| Paradisum | Epsom Girls' Grammar School | GOLD |
| Rāwhiti | Wellington East Girls' College | BRONZE |
| Resolutions | Rangi Ruru Girls' School | SILVER |
| Rewaken Polycation Choir | Manurewa High School | SILVER |
| Saints Alive | St Cuthbert's College | GOLD |
| St Cecilia Singers | Diocesan School for Girls | GOLD |
| Takapuna Grammar School Chorale | Takapuna Grammar School | SILVER |
| Voces Luce | Queen Margaret College | SILVER |
| Voicemale | Westlake Boys' High School | GOLD |
SPECIAL AWARDS:
SOUNZ-NZCF Te Reo Maori Choral Composition Award: Bella Allan-Moetaua (Westlake Girls' Grammar School)
Bella ALLAN-MOETAUA: Ko tangi o rū poūa
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NZCF-SOUNZ Choral Composition Award: Matilda Faamausili (Westlake Girls' Grammar School)
Matilda FAAMAUSILI: Dover Beach
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Auahi Kore Award for Best Performance of an Item in Te Reo Māori: Choralation, for I Te Timatanga.
Hutt City Trophy for Best Performance of a NZ Composition: St Cecilia Singers, for Iustus Es by Kitty Milner.
Tour Time Cup for Best Performance of a piece of Choral Art Music: Cantare, for She Weeps Over Rahoon & The Centennial Choir, for Dirait-on.
Youth Ambassador Award for the choir that the Committee thinks most demonstrates outstanding engagement with all elements of the Finale: Grammarphonics.
At the end of the Gala Concert, the choirs joined for a massed item
The Big Sing 2023 Massed Choir - I Sing Because I'm Happy (Gabriel arr Padden, Dilworth); National Anthem
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Performers at The Big Sing Finale Gala Concert 2023. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
Performers at The Big Sing Finale Gala Concert 2023. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
Performers at The Big Sing Finale Gala Concert 2023. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
Performers at The Big Sing 2023 receiving awards. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
Performers at The Big Sing 2023 receiving awards. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
Performers at The Big Sing 2023 receiving awards. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
Performers at The Big Sing 2023 receiving awards. Photo: Photo by Johnathan Christiansen
The Big Sing 2023 judges: (top, L- R) Lauren Hannay, Brent Stewart,(bottom, L- R) Dr Siliva Gaugatao, Ataahua Papa, Andrew Withington. Photo: NZCF
For the Finale, international judge Lauren Hannay joined Brent Stewart and Dr Siliva Gaugatao, with Ataahua Papa judging the Auahi Kore Award. Read more about the judges on the NZCF website
The Big Sing is a regional secondary schools choral festival that takes place in 10 centres involving around 8,000 students from over 200+ schools, supported by their families and communities.
Run by the New Zealand Choral Federation, The Big Sing has been taking place for over 30 years and is New Zealand’s largest choral event with singers entering regional competitions held in Northland, Auckland, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki, Manawatu/Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough/Nelson, Canterbury/West Coast, Otago and Southland.
The New Zealand Choral Federation also provides a list of all sorts of choirs around the country, which you can see here.