The chance of singing in front of a Rugby World Cup crowd at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium drew about 90 singers to choir auditions at the weekend.
On behalf of Rugby New Zealand 2011, the New Zealand Choral Federation is organising choirs to sing national anthems at all 48 world cup matches around the country during September and October.
Auditions were held in Dunedin on Saturday at St Paul's Cathedral for places on the 30-person choir.
Dunedin organiser Carole Randall said about 90 males and females enrolled in the morning workshop and about 80 took part in the auditions with Auckland-based chorale specialist David Squire.
"There was a real feel-good factor. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it."
Those auditioning ranged from age 13 to singers in their 70s.
As well as looking for choral excellence, organisers wanted to get a diversity of singers in age, gender and ethnic background.
The choir for the first match in Dunedin would also contain about 15 singers from Christchurch who would otherwise miss out on a chance due to the earthquakes.
A similar auditioning process was held in Invercargill yesterday, she said.
Mr Squire would be selecting choir members during the next week to 10 days.
They would be required to know the national anthems, in whatever language, off by heart, for the games.
Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie has provided the choral arrangements for all 20 national anthems to be sung at the cup.
