Concerts

2026 Concert Dates

May 23 – St George's Church, Takapuna

August 22 – St George's Church, Takapuna

December 5 – St George's Church, Takapuna

Camerata's next concert will be our Christmas concert on Saturday 5 December, 7.30pm at St George's Church in Takapuna.

Past Concerts

Pyramid Songs

22 August 2026

Camerata Chamber Choir presents an Egyptian themed concert. Part I of Handel’s 1739 oratorio ‘Israel in Egypt’ opens the concert, telling the biblical story of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt, the rise of Moses their liberator, the plagues upon the Egyptians, and their escape by crossing the Red Sea. With libretto taken from the book of Exodus, Handel uses voices in double choir formation to create some of his most colourful ‘word painting’, mimicking the Biblical plagues — from frogs to flies and locusts, crashing hailstones, eerie darkness and more. A New Zealand premiere of a set of Egyptian folk songs in Arabic, arranged for choir by Cairo musician Nayer Nagui, offers a contrasting window into an indigenous perspective. ‘Go Down Moses’, the well-known African-American spiritual, uses the Exodus story as a metaphor for their own struggle for freedom. Modern Egypt-inspired music also features, with a meditative reflection on mortality and myth from Radiohead and a classic 80s pop hit from The Bangles. David Gordon conducts Camerata accompanied by pianist Megan Quatermass and organist Edmond Wong. Spanning thousands of years and multiple genres, this eclectic concert has both interest and wide appeal — don’t miss it!

Past Life Melodies

23 May 2026

Contemporary composers' fascination with light, mysticism, and the spiritual realm connects the works in Camerata Chamber Choir's Past Life Melodies concert. Nearly all works in the programme are by living composers, with many from the 21st century. Morten Lauridsen's intensely personal Lux Aeterna forms the centrepiece, showcasing his trademark sonority alongside an exploration of both historical and contemporary compositional techniques across multiple movements. We are joined for this work by organist Dr Philip Smith. Two Australian composers also feature. Paul Jarman's Pemulwuy explores the indigenous perspective on the loss of Aboriginal land around Sydney, while Sarah Hopkins' Past Life Melodies draws on extended vocal technique to create a mystical and engaging musical experience. Also featured are works by Kim André Arnesen, Ola Gjeilo, David Childs, Darius Lim, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Josef Rheinberger. The choir is conducted by David Gordon with Megan Quatermass accompanying on piano.

A Christmas Fantasia

6 December 2025

Camerata Chamber Choir's concert A Christmas Fantasia will be an evening of festive celebration. The programme includes Vaughan Williams' luminous Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Mendelssohn's radiant There Shall a Star From Jacob, carols by New Zealand composer David Hamilton and our own conductor, David Gordon, alongside traditional Christmas songs beloved across generations. The concert invites audience participation in a few carols too! Bring your voice and join the collective celebration of the season's music. David Gordon conducts, with pianist Megan Quatermass.

Shakespeare – As We Like It

30 August 2025

Shakespeare’s genius is just as relevant today as when he put quill to paper in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. His masterpieces, from sonnets to plays, have provided inspiration across the centuries for composers and singers alike. Camerata Chamber Choir’s Shakespeare – As We Like It offers Shakespeare settings drawn from the last 100 years. We present three significant and varied works embracing styles from Art Music to Jazz – Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Three Shakespeare Songs, George Shearing’s Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare and local composer David Hamilton’s A Shakespeare Garland. In a programme offering profundity, beauty and high spirits, Camerata will also present works by Ward Swingle, Gerald Finzi, and a first performance of a choral work by our conductor David Gordon.

Mystics and Spirits

24 May 2025

Camerata's concert of mystical and spiritual music sets out to nourish the soul. We lift off with one of the greatest of all mystical musical moments, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs. Based on the poems of George Herbert, a 16th century mystic and pastor, we are joined by gifted baritone Faamanu Fuimaono. Having set the scene we continue with more beautiful and rousing music built on mystical texts. This first half includes music by Howells, Bruckner, Victoria and others before ending with the enthralling and seldom-performed music of Lily Boulanger - one of France’s most significant and prolific woman composers.The second half, Spirits, couples these mystical works and raises the roof with a contrasting set of African-American Spirituals. These evocative, lively and uplifting anthems are drawn from some of the greatest compositions and arrangements of African-American composers.We are pleased to be accompanied by Holy Trinity Cathedral organist Dr Philip Smith, alongside Megan Quatermass, our excellent piano accompanist. David Gordon conducts the choir.Expect a stimulating evening of ravishing and entertaining music. Save the date and be there!

Sing Christmas

30 November 2024

Celebrate the joy of the season with Camerata’s Christmas concert! This year, we are delighted to present Mendelssohn’s radiant cantata ‘Vom Himmel Hoch’ (‘From Heaven on High’)—a piece brimming with joyful news and the wonder of Christmas. The programme also includes cherished Christmas classics and other festive selections, complemented by meaningful readings from diverse faith and cultural traditions, honouring the richness of our community. Expect carols old and new, including some by our own conductor, David Gordon—and yes, you’re all invited to join in for a few! Soloists include baritone Blake Scanlen and talented members of the choir, with Megan Quatermass accompanying on piano. We look forward to welcoming you for an inspiring start to the holiday season!

Viva La Musica!

17 August 2024

Viva La Musica – Long Live the Music! Join Camerata Chamber Choir on Saturday 17 August to enjoy a programme of music on the lighter side. We are excited to welcome David Gordon as our guest conductor for this concert. Megan Quatermass will accompany the choir on the piano.
The music on this occasion is light and bright. We have nursery rhymes by David Farquhar, childhood lyrics by John Rutter, arrangements of songs by Billy Joel, several well-known folk songs to which you may feel inclined to sing along, and music to leave us all Dancing Around the World! Watch out for the Drunken Sailor!

Schöne Lieder - Songs from Germany

18 May 2024

‘Beautiful songs’ by German composers have been chosen for Camerata Chamber Choir’s first concert of 2024 on Saturday 18 May.
Under the direction of conductor Matthew Howes, we perform Rheinberger's sublime Mass in E-flat Major, Mendelssohn's Verleih uns Frieden, Brahms’ Geistliches Lied, Bach's O Jesu Christ, Mein’s Lebens Licht, and Bruckner's Os Justi. A highlight will be Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes Op. 52 and Op. 65, a collection of love songs. Liebeslieder Op. 52 was first performed in 1870, and Neue Liebeslieder Op. 65 (‘New Love Songs’) was written several years later. Arranged for choir and piano duet, Camerata is thrilled to be accompanied by Megan Quatermass and Sheryl Clarke playing together on one grand piano.

By Popular Request

2 December 2023

Get ready for a special evening on December 2nd at 7.30pm with Camerata Chamber Choir's 'By Popular Request'. Our choir members have chosen their favourite choral music for an evening filled with enchanting melodies and harmonies that have captured their hearts. Under the direction of Matthew Howes, and with the talented Sheryl Clarke on the piano, we'll also be celebrating the festive season with our favourite Christmas music. And, of course, we invite you to join us and sing along to some of our most beloved Christmas carols.

The Rise and Fall of a Queen

16 September 2023

Just as monarchs rise and fall, so does the music written to accompany their reigns. The rise of the queen is represented in the first half of the concert, with coronation music including Zadok the Priest by Handel and William Walton’s Coronation Te Deum. For these majestic works, the choir will be conducted by Matthew Howes and accompanied by organist Philip Smith.Our second half is Dido and Aeneas: telling the tragic love story of Dido, the founder and Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas. Written by Henry Purcell in 1688, this Baroque opera is based on Book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid. Camerata Chamber Choir will form the chorus, with students from Te Whare o ngā Pūkōrero Pūoro School of Music, University of Auckland taking on the solo roles in the opera. We are also delighted to welcome instrumentalists Hanna Wiskari (saxophone), Lindsay McLay (viola) and James Bush (cello). Performed in the beautiful surroundings of St Matthew-in-the-City, this will be a concert you won’t want to miss.

The Sprig of Thyme

6 May 2023

Join us for an enchanting evening of choral music as we present our first concert of the year. Under the direction of Matthew Howes and accompanied by pianist Megan Quatermass, we invite you to indulge in the nostalgic melodies of John Rutter's The Sprig of Thyme. This collection of folk-song settings of beloved tunes, including Down by the sally gardens, The willow tree and Afton water, will take you on a lyrical journey through the British Isles. Allow yourself to be captivated by the hauntingly beautiful King David by Herbert Howells. Hear of the struggles of being a shore-whaler in 19th century New Zealand with Douglas Mews' arrangement of Come all you Tonguers. To round out the evening's repertoire, we will also perform Edward German's Just So Songs. This lively musical setting comprises twelve poems from Rudyard Kipling's beloved Just So Stories, a collection of tales of how different animals came to be.

Carols and Cantata: Christmas with Camerata!

3 December 2022

Wachet Auf! Awake, the bridegroom comes. This is the crux of Johann Sebastian Bach's most famous cantata, and how we open Camerata's Christmas concert for 2022. We will be accompanied on the organ by the ever versatile Nicholas Forbes, and enjoy soloists Henrietta Reid (soprano) and James Butler (bass). The second half of the concert will include many Christmas favourites, including John Rutter's arrangement of O Holy Night, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston, and Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day by John Gardner. And of course you too get the chance to sing along for some of our most well known carols.

Céleste et Diabolique

8 October 2022

Vive la France! Camerata returns to St Matthew-in-the-City in October to present a programme of French music. Drawing from the best of the French masters, our anchor work will be the Duruflé Requiem, completed in 1947 and described as an elegant, luxuriant and spellbinding gem. We are thrilled to sing this with the magnificent organ accompaniment played by Philip Smith. The programme is rounded out with more Duruflé (the exquisite Quatre Motets) as well as Fauré’s serenely beautiful Cantique de Jean-Racine and Poulenc’s Videntes stellam. We also welcome Megan Quatermass, who will accompany us on the piano. Celestial music indeed. In opposition we will sing Poulenc’s motet Timor et tremor and Fauré’s Les Djinns with its wild cries from hell. A nod to earthly troubles comes with Fauré’s Madrigal about men’s and women’s views of each other in love.

Pop Culture

9 July 2022

Pop music has existed for ever, but how often do we remind ourselves of that? Composers of popular music have a special and long-lived impact. Camerata is delighted to be back in 2022, bringing you a romp of pop music through the ages, conducted and accompanied by our versatile Matthew Howes. We begin with madrigals (e.g. Fair Phyllis and her Amyntas, The Silver Swan), progress through the 19th century with opera (Verdi, Puccini, Wagner), and on into the 20th century (Stanford, Gershwin). Then we move to more recent favourites, with jazz and pop classics including Chilcott, The Beatles, and Billy Joel. What a terrific variety this is, and we are so enjoying preparing it. We hope very much to see you there.

Te Iwa o Matariki

3 July 2021

The appearance of Matariki (known elsewhere as the Pleiades) in the early winter morning sky heralds the beginning of the Maori New Year. This is a season for looking both backwards to our tupuna and forwards to our hopes for the future, for celebrating our environment, and for coming together after harvest and preparing for planting. Camerata marks a new beginning by performing in the city for the first time, at the iconic St Matthew-in-the-City. We are delighted to present music reflecting the nine stars of Matariki, in conjunction with The Fundamentals, the premier mixed choir from Rangitoto College. Conducted by Matthew Howes and Luana Prictor, and accompanied by Janet Gibbs, we will sing a range of works from both New Zealand and overseas, from contemporary and more traditional times. The performance will feature, among other things, Chris Artley’s 2020 composition, Matariki, Esenvald’s Stars, Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque, traditional Maori songs, and movements from John Wells’ Call of the Running Tide, all loosely themed with one of the nine stars.

Mozart Mass in C minor

29 May 2021

As our first offering of the four concerts planned for Camerata in 2021, this concert centres on Mozart’s “Great” Mass in C Minor, considered one of the maestro’s finest works. With Matthew Howes as conductor and Janet Gibbs accompanying on the piano, the choir sings this complex, melodic and interesting work in four and eight parts. We are delighted that Morag Atchison, one of New Zealand’s leading sopranos, will perform as our principal soprano soloist and Sophia Yang will join her as the second soprano soloist. To begin the evening, the programme features three other of Mozart’s great and well-loved pieces: Ave Verum Corpus, Laudate Dominum and Exsultate Jubilate. All in all, this will be a concert of magnificent works, sung with great pleasure in what we hope will be an uninterrupted year of music.

Fit for a King

5 December 2020

It’s almost Christmas, and who’s ready for celebration? Christmas is a time for kings, newborn and wise. But there are other kings and there is rich music to celebrate them too. This concert, Fit for a King, begins with Coronation Anthems by Handel and Parry, including the well-known Zadok the Priest. Then we move on to Christmas, continuing with the king theme (The Three Kings, In Dulci Jubilo, Hark the Herald Angels Sing) in traditional carols, and wishing you a Merry Christmas, with figgy pudding, in more secular style. Conducted by Matthew Howes, accompanied by Janet Gibbs, and joined by soloists Fiona Tibbles and Miles Timmis, we are thrilled to be presenting our third concert in this year of change in the world. We hope you will come and hear us (and even join in with us at times) as we sing music which is fit for a king and which promises positive times ahead. Then come and join us for supper in the hall afterwards so we can share some Christmas cheer.

Steal Away

31 October 2020

Steal Away for a moment of respite in this oh so crazy covid world. Come and join us for a concert of reflective American music, drawn from a range of composers, home-grown, immigrant and visitors, modern and traditional. You will hear music by Morten Lauridsen (O Magnum Mysterium), Eric Whitacre (Seal Lullaby), Ola Gjeilo (Ubi Caritas), Sergei Rachmaninov (Bogoroditse Devo), James Erb (Shenandoah) and Michael Tippett (Steal Away). Matthew Howes, who kept our singing enterprise together via youtube throughout NZ’s lockdowns, conducts us on this walk through some of America’s most well-known and beautiful choral music. Janet Gibbs will be bringing her lightning fingers to accompany us, and we have some surprise soloists joining us. We would love to see you there. As ever, there will be supper in the hall afterwards so we can gather with you – what a treat to be back in Level 1!

(P)simply Psalmody

25 July 2020

We’re very excited to be back at last after Covid-19 lockdown, presenting a concert of two firsts: our first for 2020 and our first with our new Musical Director, Matthew Howes.So it’s fitting that this concert spans from the beginnings of choral music as we know it until the present day. In our world ravaged by Covid-19, we are reminded of the many calamities which have beset the world over the centuries. The psalms, originating in the ancient Jewish world, offered comfort and hope. This led to the beginnings of Christian community church singing, influenced as well by the music of other Mediterranean and European cultures, which in time gave birth to the wonderful choral repertoire we have available today. Our concert will include traditional plainchant, Anglican chant and more modern versions of psalms, including Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42, Parry’s I was glad, Rutter’s Psalm 23, Matthias’ Let the people praise thee O Lord (composed for Charles’ and Diana’s wedding), and Matthew Howes’ Mau hoki a whakau (composed for St-Matthew-in-the-City in 2019). We are delighted to be joined by Te Ohorere Williams as soprano soloist for the Mendelssohn. Conducted by Matthew and accompanied by Janet Gibbs, we bring you a concert with a focus on community and ensemble singing.

Celebrate Christmas - and our journey with Jenny

30 November 2019

A celebration indeed! Who doesn’t love the buzz and summer optimism of Christmas? And, while we are sad to be farewelling Jenny as our conductor, we want to celebrate the wonderful decade of music we have shared with her. So in this concert we will present some of Jenny’s and Camerata’s favourites. We’ll begin with some lighter pieces, very much part of our Christmas tradition, including works by Andrew Carter, Will Todd, NZ’s own Peter Godfrey, John Rutter, and the inspiring Morten Lauridsen, as well as some familiar carols (yes, you will get the chance to join in). Then we’ll sing a selection of choruses from Handel’s Messiah. We’ll lift up our heads, sing ‘hallelujah’ and a resounding ‘amen’, among other favourites. We are delighted that soprano Elizabeth Mandeno and tenor Lachlan Craig will add delicious solo arias in amongst the choruses. To our great pleasure, Janet Gibbs, master pianist and organist, will provide musical accompaniment and enhancement. This concert will demonstrate our joy in music and Jenny’s wonderful conducting, and our optimism for the future.

An Englishman in Germany

24 August 2019

Brexit might make you think Britons don’t like Europe. But that wasn’t always the case. In 1894, as many English people did, Sir Edward Elgar (of Nimrod and Pomp and Circumstance fame) went walking in the Bavarian Highlands with his wife and composed a series of songs as a memento of the trip. Of course when travelling in Germany it is a must to hear some of its glorious music, as Elgar must have done (and, surprisingly, he was more famous in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century than he was in England). So, under Jenny Firth’s baton, this concert takes us on a journey through German music of the Romantic period, from three of Elgar’s songs, to Brahms (A Thought Like Music), Rheinberger (Abendlied; excerpts from his Mass in Eflat), Bruckner (Locus Iste), and Mendelssohn (Above All Praise and All Majesty, Der ersten Frühlingstag). A highlight will be Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer featuring our charming soprano soloist, Elizabeth Mandeno. We are delighted that Janet Gibbs will again accompany us on piano and organ with her beautiful musicianship.

A Sound Came From Heaven

18 May 2019

How often do we hear the phrase ‘music made in heaven’? This concert presents a selection of contrasting but always beautiful music, taking its title from the New Zealand composer, Douglas Mews’ atmospheric A Sound Came From Heav’n. Conducted by Jenny Firth and accompanied by Janet Gibbs on piano and organ, we will travel from the 16th century until today and from Europe, Britain and the US to New Zealand, in a variety of original compositions and modern arrangements of well-loved music. The concert will centre on Spain’s Tomas Luis de Victoria (e.g. Vere Languores and O magnum mysterium), but we will also canvas a variety of other pieces including the Scottish Skye Boat Song, the Welsh Ayr Hyd y nos (All Through the Night), English folk songs such as Tom he was a piper’s son, the Swedish Vem Kan Segla, All my Trials from the USA and finishing with Andrew Carter’s Deep Peace. We are also delighted that the concert will include the extra dimension of Spanish music from Barkin Sertkaya on guitar and Kevin Kim on recorder.

Summer Christmas

24 November 2018

You asked for it! Camerata’s Christmas concert features music selected from requests by the choir and our audience. We are privileged to have as guest conductor the delightful Dr Penny Watson, who will preside over an eclectic collection of Christmas music, some well-known and some less so, accompanied by the wonderful Janet Gibbs. Ranging from New Zealand to the UK to France and the Ukraine, the concert features a range of styles as well as some traditional carols, providing a programme of variety and fun. It includes the sparkly Bob Chilcott arrangement of the Twelve Days of Christmas, the beautiful Hymne à la Vierge by Pierre Villette, Carol of the Bells, Text Me Merry Christmas, No well (a humorous take on We Three Kings) and Calypso Lullaby. In support of our local context, we will sing Po Marie as well as Summer Christmas, the premier performance of a work composed by our own Wayne Senior (no snow, but the glow of a golden sun). There will be a second guest conductor in amongst it all – the eminent scholar and talented choral director Professor Frank Worrell from UC Berkeley, California. This will be an entertaining experience both for the choir and for the audience, introducing the Christmas season with verve, interest and choral beauty.

Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem

12 and 19 August 2018

Brahms Requiem (1865-69), sometimes called the ‘human requiem’ because Brahms intended it to comfort and focus on hope, is one of the most famous choral masterpieces. Camerata has invited Hamilton’s St Peter’s Cathedral Choir to join with us in singing this magnificent and substantial work, to be sung in both Hamilton and Auckland. While it was originally scored for orchestra, we will be singing it to the accompaniment of a piano duet – two pianists playing on one grand piano. Brahms created this duet accompaniment because he felt that it would provide more intimacy as well as precision and clarity, allowing for both the accompaniment and the choral aspects to be well-heard and appreciated. The piano duet version was performed last year (2017) in New York’s Carnegie Hall and the work was described as ‘an anthem for our time’ (James Oestreich, New York Times, May 12 2017). The complex piano duet demands the skills of excellent pianists, and we are delighted that Janet Gibbs and Peter Watts have agreed to perform this role. The music begins quietly, then moves from sombre mourning to light, affirmation, contemplation, consolation, exhilaration and ends in peace, giving a great range of mood for the choir and the audience. It is full of colour, with attractive melodies and harmonies. The very beautiful soprano solo will be sung by the North Shore’s Elizabeth Mandeno. The choral work is interwoven with powerful baritone solos to be sung by James Harrison, a New Zealander who has returned after several years overseas and was recently acclaimed as Maximilian in Opera New Zealand’s performances of Bernstein’ Candide. All in all, these will be splendid concerts, so do come along and enjoy the glory that is Brahms’ German Requiem.

Wild Daisies

19 May 2018

May is New Zealand music month. What better time to go wild and attend Camerata’s concert, ‘Wild Daisies.’We begin with a Maori chant of welcome composed in the early 20th Century, after which all our music is by very much alive New Zealand composers, from the long-established and esteemed John Wells to internationally acclaimed David Childs, Felicia Edgecombe from Wellington, and Aucklanders Chris Artley, Cecily Sheehy, Ken Leech and William Green. Our home being the city of sails, we sing a Maori canoe paddling song set by Cecily Sheehy, then go to sea with John Wells’ Call of the Running Tide, and again with William Green’s delightful Sea to Shore –where Devonport takes a starring role. We touch on Solitude with Chris Artley, become lyrical with Wells’ setting of poetry by New Zealanders in Wild Daisies, get quirky while checking out camping with Felicia Edgecombe and sing a lot of nonsense with Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky set for choir by Ken Leech.

Joy to the World!

25 November 2017

We love Christmas at Camerata. So we will be singing a selection of gorgeous and joyous Christmas music at our concert on 25 November. Christus Natus Est, composed by Cecilia McDowall in 2002, offers a collection of carols combined into a seamless work with an exciting organ accompaniment. Once again we are thrilled that Janet Gibbs will be our organist. Mezzo-soprano Jessica Wells will join us as soloist. The work also includes a children’s choir, and we are delighted to welcome the Marybelles from Marist College, with their conductor, Charlotte Nicklin. Along with some traditional favourites, joys in this concert include works by Benjamin Britten (A Hymn to the Virgin, There is no Rose), the Basque carol Gabriel’s Message, and the very traditional and haunting Veni, Veni, Emmanuel. What would a Christmas concert be without John Rutter? This time we will sing his sprightly Jesus Child and serene Mary’s Lullaby. To round the Christmas picture out, we will sing the Irving Berlin classic, White Christmas, along with Martin and Blane’s Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Beauty in Music

19 August 2017

Beauty is truth, truth beauty; that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know (Keats)Come and join us for this concert of truly beautiful music – music which choristers love to sing and which may transport you to another plane! We feature Fauré’s Requiem with soloists Kelly Harris (soprano) and Arthur Adams-Close (baritone). We are delighted to welcome back the splendid Janet Gibbs to play the lovely organ accompaniment. Who would not be moved by the Agnus Dei, Libera Me or Pie Jesu? The concert also gives us time to luxuriate in the beautiful sounds of music by Mozart, Parry, Stanford, and Harris, including Beati quorum via, Faire is the heaven and My Soul, there is a country. Beautiful music comes from all times. So we will also sing works by the more modern composers Morten Lauridsen, John Taverner and Ola Gjeilo, as well as earlier masters like Victoria and Byrd. Amidst the beautiful harmonies, you will hear the ethereal bluebird, feel the sting in the tail of the dying swan, surrender to the serenity of Ave Verum (Mozart) and Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo), and hear two versions of The Lamb, just to mention a few of the delights that await.

On the Lighter Side

20 May 2017

Camerata Chamber Choir’s first offering for 2017 features work by two jazz masters, with arrangements of jazz classics by New Zealand’s own Wayne Senior, and A Little Jazz Mass by England’s Bob Chilcott. In a move exciting for us, we will be accompanied by a jazz trio ( Crystal Choi on piano, David Hodkinson on bass and Jason Orme on drums). We are also delighted that singer Renée Brennan (ex-Tadpole), again a jazz afficionado, joins us as soloist. Wayne’s long and illustrious career has many highlights in terms of composing, arranging and conducting, with his work being played all over the world. We will sing his arrangements of a number of classics, the mood moving from I’m beginning to See the Light to No Moon at All , from drifting leaves (The Autumn Leaves) to Broadway (Crazy Rhythm), from the first invitation to the fullness of love and saying goodbye. Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass combines the traditional Latin of the Mass (Missa brevis) with twenty-first century jazz, and is described as highly effective and original by publisher Oxford University Press. The choir has been loving the great treat of being tutored in jazz by Wayne (also singing) alongside our conductor, Jenny Firth. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we are.

Good King Wenceslas

3 December 2016

In 2014 Bob Chilcott was asked to compose a twenty minute choral work to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the well-known British chain store 'John Lewis'. The result is an engaging work for choir and piano, titled simply Wenceslas , evoking the original story with its message of winter cold, poverty and charity. The acclaimed Sheryl Clarke will delight us on the piano. Wenceslas will be sung by Hamilton bass, Jonathan Eyers , and The Page by young Auckland singer, Dilys Fong. Jonathan is currently studying towards an Honours degree at Waikato University with Dame Malvina Major. Dilys is an ex-Westlake Girls High School student, a singer from Key Cygnetures who has gone on to achieve BMus/ BSc majoring in Performance Voice and Physics. We will also sing some other carols for you, plus three chorales from J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, interspersed with arias sung by Dilys and Jonathan.

Sing for Joy

20 August 2016

Singing for joy is something Camerata really takes pleasure in. We are having fun preparing these uplifting works to warm your hearts on a winter’s evening. Vivaldi’s Gloria is one of his best-known compositions and one of the most frequently performed examples of sacred music from the Baroque era. The work ranges through the boisterous and jolly, with strongly articulated rhythms, to the reflective and lyrical, with music for soloists and choir. Both Parry and Handel’s works – I Was Glad and Zadok the Priest – were composed to be sung in the presence of royalty or indeed at the crowning of kings. These are songs of majesty and joy. Also on the programme are two short a capella works: Mendelssohn’s Above All Praise and All Majesty and Victoria’s O Quam Gloriosum – O how glorious is the Kingdom. Our new gem for you, Te Deum, is by a composer not well-known in New Zealand, Otto Olsson. This Swedish composer was one of the greatest virtuoso organists of his time and composed organ, instrumental and choral music with a late Romantic feeling. His Te Deum is his best-known work. We are fortunate to be accompanied by one of Auckland’s finest organists, Janet Gibbs.

Poetry in Music

30 April 2016

Our first concert for this year contains two works, both dealing with horizons. Poetry is central in both. We start at home, with New Zealand composer Christopher Marshall's To The Horizon: Images of New Zealand. This expressive song cycle includes the well-known poems Horizon by Ian Wedde, Walking On My Feet by A.R.D. Fairburn, The Magpies by Denis Glover and On the Swag by R.A.K. Mason. John Parker will read each poem before we sing it. Then we move to Great Britain, with Horizons by English composer Andrew Carter. This at once lively and reflective music perfectly underscores poetry by Anne Brontë, Arthur Hugh Clough, John Masefield, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Rudyard Kipling and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The work is scored for solo soprano, chorus and piano. Gina Sanders will be our soprano soloist and Jennifer Gorbey our pianist.

We Sing the Birth

12 December 2015

'We Sing the Birth' is a joyous exploration of the carols and works surrounding the Christmas story. The music featured includes Part 1 of the Bach Christmas Oratorio and To Us a Child is Born. This year the other carols are largely those of English and New Zealand composers. We tell the story of Christ’s birth, from the reflective to the celebratory drinking song Wassail. We feature two young soloists, tenor Kalauni Pouvalu and bass Jonathan Dunlop, and experienced singer Margo Knightbridge. Make the most of this opportunity to hear our guest organist, Timothy Noon, in one of his last concerts in New Zealand, before he returns to England to take up the organist’s position at Exeter Cathedral.

Glorious Romantics

6 September 2015

Camerata Singers present Glorious Romantics with a bit of a twist. We halloo from the Bavarian highlands where Spring is underway.... "Now we hear Spring's sweet voice.... bidding all the earth rejoice". There is some delightful Mendelssohn, including the old favourite Hear My Prayer. Then Camerata goes somewhat operatic with Puccini's Messa di Gloria - an exuberant work presaging his later fine operas. Puccini composed it for his graduation thesis at the age of eighteen. As it is an afternoon concert, bring along family and friends who prefer that time of the day and celebrate with us the start of Spring! Conductor: Jenny Firth. With special guests Janet Gibbs, Iain Tetley, Jan-Maree Baughan and Alexander Garvey

Atmospherics

9 May 2015

The music for this concert has been chosen to reflect the different "atmospheres" one encounters in religion, nature, humanity and the celestial. Some atmospheres are serene and reflective, while others are dark, passionate and fiery. The concert will also feature performances by guest choir The Fundamentals from Rangitoto College, conducted by Jonathan Palmer. Works include those by Scandinavian composers Ola Gjeilo and Einojuhani Rautavaara, American composers Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre, and NZ composer David Hamilton.

Duruflé Requiem and European Christmas Music

29 November 2014

The Camerata Singers, conducted by Jenny Firth, perform Duruflé's Requiem and European Christmas Music on Saturday 29 November. The North Shore Camerata (or The Camerata Singers as we are now more commonly known) began its life as a community choir on Auckland’s North Shore, then known as the Rothesay Singers, some 25 years ago in 1989. As well as celebrating our 25th anniversary as a choir this year, we are also celebrating our 10th anniversary as "The Camerata"! To end this special double anniversary year, The Camerata Singers, conducted by Jenny Firth, are performing Duruflé’s Requiem and a beautiful selection of European Christmas music. Joining The Camerata Singers for this magical programme is one of New Zealand's most respected musicians, organist Dr John Wells. John's daughters, Jessica and Rachel, will also be joining the choir as Mezzo Soprano and 'Cellist and the Wells family will be performing Johannes Brahms "Zwei Gesange".

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