Concert a highlight for South Brighton choir

The South Brighton Voices choir has been going since 1947 and has recently had an upsurge in new...
The South Brighton Voices choir has been going since 1947 and has recently had an upsurge in new members. Photo: Supplied
Community choir group South Brighton Voices is teaming up with the New Zealand Male Choir for an afternoon of music.

The two choirs will be joined by ladies tap dance group Molls Dolls at Rawhiti School on Saturday, May 28, at 3pm.

South Brighton Voices president Beth Brixton said this is an exciting opportunity for the choir to perform with a larger group.

“South Brighton Voices are enormously privileged and proud to be asked to join in performing with the New Zealand Male choir,” she said.

South Brighton Voices has performed with two similar sized choirs of 35-40 members, one being the Chillingham Voices from New South Wales at the Piano.

The choir has been around since 1947, when it was founded by South New Brighton School headmaster George Couch.

“The first sessions were held in a classroom at the school, then later the community hall was built and became the base for the choir until the earthquakes deemed the building to be uninhabitable,” Brixton said.

Following the earthquakes, the choir hired out different church halls and are now based at the New Brighton Union Church.

Brixton said the choir is looking forward to performing once again, after having to cancel practices and three fundraising concerts last year.

“We’ve missed singing at SingFest in the city for two years now, which had enabled us to reach a wider audience and to experience other choirs around town,” Brixton said.

“We fortunately can now look forward to performing three concerts in 2022.”

During the lockdowns the choir had meetings over Zoom and continued to practise by singing along with YouTube or other musical instruments.

The choir ranges from members in their early 40s to 90 and has recently had an upsurge in new members.

“We are always open to encouraging new members to come along and join our friendly and happy group,” Brixton said.

The concert will be held in the Rawhiti School Hall with ticket sales at the door. It is $20 for an adult ticket and primary and secondary pupils are free. Masks must be worn.