2800 Children In Choir

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 11

2800 Children In Choir

Possibly the biggest choir ever to perform in New Zealand will sing to Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Christchurch civic welcome at Lancaster Park on February 16. There will be 2800 children trained for last year’s Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival to sing mass items but they have not all sung together before. Because of limited theatre accommodation their items had to be spread in school groups over 10 nights.

Primary and intermediate schools received the invitation to take part just before schools closed last year and their teachers quickly tocl: advantage of the easier period after examinations to hold practices. At the same time the Regional Superintendent of Education (Mr T. M. Archer) appealed to post-primary principals to release members of last year’s choirs who are entering secondary schools this year. This has been promised. Both these groups will come together for a mass rehearsal from 9.30 to 11 a.m. next Thursday— at the same time on Friday if a postponement is necessary because of rain. A piano will be used for the rehearsal but the full 50piece Christchurch Civic Orchestra, formed last year, will accompany the children when they sing for the Queen. Musical Director Mr K. R. Newson, musical director of the Christchurch School Music Association, will be the conductor. Yesterday he said every child in his huge choir would be thrilled by the honour of singing before Queen Elizabeth and the association also by this recognition of its work However, said Mr Newson, nobody should forget that the annual festivals and this great demonstration before Royalty were possible only because of the devoted work of class teachers year after year. The choir of 2800 will be drawn from 56 primary and intermediate schools over the whole Christchurch metropolitan area and a little beyond. The songs the children will sing are:— ‘'Green Hills of England” "The Swazi Warrior” “The British Grenadiers” "The Uist Tramping Song" "The Ploughboy’’ "As Pants the Heart.” The choir will sing in unison with descants on the third and last pieces. Orchestration has been arranged by Dr. Vernon Griffiths, Professor 3. A. Ritchie, Mr Charles Martin and Mr R. E Perks.

The ehoir proper will sing from No. 2 stand which abuts the No. 1 stand where invited guests will be sitting. Mr

Newson said that the choir stand promised better acoustical properties than might be expected because it formed a sort of sound shell. This should provide good balance with the orchestra grouped on the grass. For Mr Newson the Royal performance will be a highlight in a year memorable for other events. He has just retired after presiding at the conference of the New Zealand School Music Association in Christchurch this week; he is a member of the Christchurch Civic Music Council arranging the Royal concert; he is musical director for the Christchurch Operatic Society and held auditions for “Music Man” last evening for the presei> tation to be made in June; next week he will resume his duties as senior lecturer in charge of music at the Teachers’ College; and soon afterwards begin preparations for the twenty-fifth Christchurch schools’ music festival.

To Present Bouquet

Wendy Perks, aged 12 years, a pupil of the Sumner School, will present the bouquet to Queen Elizabeth at the beginning of the civic welcome in Christchurch. She will wear her school uniform of grey gym frock, white blouse, and school tie. Wendy is the daughter of Mr and Mrs R. E. Perks. Her father is lecturer in music at the Christchurch Teachers’ College, and Director of the Christchurch School Orchestra Scheme. Wendy plays the 'cello in this orchestra, and she is also a member of the massed children’s choir which will sing for the Queen. The bouquet will be of natural unwired flowers.