Christ's College was established in 1850 as part of the Canterbury Church of England settlement. The College has throughout time developed into one of New Zealand’s leading boys schools.
The Chapel choir is one of the largest male voice chapel choirs in the country. Comprising 128 members, it is an auditioned choir ranging in age from 12 to 18 years, representing all levels of the college community. Their repertoire not only reflects the college’s Anglican heritage, but it also encompasses a range of sacred and secular works from leading New Zealand and other contemporary composers. Commissioned works by leading New Zealand choral composers Patrick Shepherd, Chris Archer, David Hamilton and the Puanaki Whanau are included in their repertoire.
This is the Choirs sixth European Tour with performances in leading venues such as St George’s Chapel, St Pauls Cathedral, Notre Dame, La Madeline, Salzburg Dom, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Stephesdom in Vienna and St Peters Basilica in Rome, to name a few. In 2003 a small group from the choir toured Italy. 2007 they represented NZ in the inaugural Vienna International Youth Music Festival.
Robert Aburn Musical Director
Robert is an experienced choral director and has been with Christ’s College for over 24 years. He has built the choir up to a powerful ensemble that is well respected both within the Christchurch community and nationally. Collaboration with leading NZ choral composers has placed the choir at the forefront of developing innovative programmes. Recent work with the Puanki whanau has seen the creation of three powerful waiata for the choir which acknowledges the importance of celebrating the art forms of our indigenous New Zealand people.
In the past Robert has directed the NZ Male choir in tours to Europe and Australia. In 2012 he had the honour of directing an Australasian choir made up of choristers from leading NZ and Australian male voice choirs and the London Welsh choirs Olympic Games Choral celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
PROGRAM: Works by Mendelssohn, Pitoni, Bruckner, CHilcott, Wood, Trotta, Aburn, Ngarimu, Wehi, Puanaki, Whanau and others.
FREE entry.