Auckland Choral Society

Auckland Choral (formally the Auckland Choral Society) is a choir based in Auckland, New Zealand. It is New Zealand's oldest surviving arts organisation and Auckland's only symphonic-scale choir. Founded in 1855,[1] Auckland Choral celebrated its 150th anniversary in November 2005 with a choral piece written especially for the choir by New Zealand composer David Hamilton.[2][3] In 2015, Auckland Choral celebrated its 160th anniversary. The choir's current music director is Professor Uwe Grodd.

Conductor Uwe Grodd with Auckland Choral

Auckland Choral performs at the Auckland Town Hall

Auckland Choral profile

Auckland Choral is a symphonic-scale choir of 100+ voices. It is Auckland's oldest and most prominent choir, and continues to play a significant role in Auckland’s arts scene today.[4] Its members are wide-ranging in age and cultural and professional background. Members rehearse weekly throughout the year and the choir regularly accepts new members following a thorough audition process. The current music director is Professor Uwe Grodd. The current assistant music director is Elizabeth Lau.

Auckland Choral sings a wide variety of works from the choral canon. Notable recent performances include Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Paul Winter's Missa Gaia and Handel's Israel in Egypt.

Auckland Choral sings in locations around Auckland, including the Auckland Town Hall and the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell. The choir frequently collaborates with orchestras from the Auckland region, including the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Piper's Sinfonia.

Auckland Choral and Handel's Messiah
Auckland Choral's Messiah is an annual Christmas tradition

The choir is well known for its annual Christmas performances of Handel's Messiah. In 2018, Auckland Choral will mark the milestone of 100 consecutive annual Christmas performances of Messiah. Auckland Choral sang its first full performance of Messiah on 17 December 1857 at the Mechanics’ Institute Hall in Auckland. This is believed to have been the first performance of the oratorio in Australasia. Auckland Choral's initial run of consecutive annual performances was interrupted only in 1918, when the outbreak of the 1918 flu pandemic in New Zealand led to a prohibition on public gatherings.

Auckland Choral Foundation

Auckland Choral is supported by the Auckland Choral Foundation, a charitable trust established to ensure the long-term success of Auckland Choral by providing capital growth and income to support its activities.

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References
  1. Simpson, Adrienne (2005). Hallelujahs & History: Auckland Choral 1855-2005. Auckland Choral.
  2. Dart, William (2 November 2005). "Auckland Choral at Missa Pacifica". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  3. "Missa Pacifica". Sounz. 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  4. "About Us". Auckland Choral. Retrieved 23 October 2015.



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