125 Years 25 Years Ago

25 Years ago, in 1988, City of Dunedin Choir celebrated 125 years of choral singing in Dunedin. For that occasion the choir commissioned Jack Speirs to compose a work, and Cantico Del Sole (canticle/song of praise of the sun) was premièred on 16 November 1988, in a concert held in Knox Church. Haydn's Mass in Time of War completed the programme for the evening.

At that time Peter Adams was the conductor, and the choir was known as the Schola Cantorum. The Southern Sinfonia was then known as the Dunedin Sinfonia.

Next year, 2013, the choir will celebrate 150 years! We are planning a year-long Festival of Choral Celebration, but the highlight will be the Heritage Concert on Saturday 23 March 2013.

Among other works, the programme will include:

• World première of a commissioned work composed by Christopher Marshall
• Cantico del Sole by Jack Speirs
• Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast from Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s cantata The Song of Hiawatha 

We look forward to welcoming you at this concert. 

Another hugely exciting development is that in June 2013 we will be going on tour with the NZSO to perform the all-time favourite Verdi Requiem in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and here in Dunedin.

Sign up to the mailing list for breaking news of our 2013 choral festival season. Send an email to 150@cityofdunedinchoir.org.nz with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.