Background

The Mid Canterbury Choir was formed to bring to the people of Mid Canterbury some wonderful choral music!  The choir met for the first time in November 2002 for a day workshop, and now meets for weekly rehearsals and has developed a considerable repertoire of traditional choral works and a variety of other shorter songs.

Aims

• To promote an foster the formation of an amateur choir in Ashburton
• To promote and encourage choral singing for the benefit of the public in Mid Canterbury and elsewhere.
• To promote, organise and conduct public concerts of choral music in Ashburton and elsewhere.
• To promote and encourage education in all matters relating to choral singing and choral music generally.

Musical Director and Accompanist

Sylvia Watson is the Musical Director of the Mid Canterbury Choir. 
Kathy McKimmie is the Accompanist of the Mid Canterbury Choir.

Admission to the Choir
Anyone wishing to join the choir (Soprano, Alto, Bass, Tenor) will be offered an audition.  Information can be obtained from the Choir Manager.

Performance Plans for 2010

• 17 October Concert with another choir, possibly the Hagley Singers
• 17 December - Christmas Concerts at lunchtime and teatime – Baring Square Church

Performance Record

2010

• 15-22 May  – Salute to Broadway – Variety Theatre 50th Jubilee Production

2009

• 20 December – Christmas Concert at St Mary’s in Geraldine
  18 December - Christmas Concerts at lunchtime and teatime – Baring Square Church
• 25 April – St Stephens on Saturday Organ Concert – guests Graham Hollobon, David Sadler, Elizabeth Emeleus, Howard Harvey, and members of the Jubilate Singers
• 29 August – Charity Concert for Cancer Society Daffodil Week with Guest Dame Malvina Major and Anna Argyle

2008

• 19 December - Christmas Concerts at lunchtime and teatime – Baring Square Church
• 23 November – Tribute Concert to Joan Wilkinson – Sinclair Centre
• 18 October – Showtime! – Ashburton Trust Event Centre
• 30 May -  Grand Piano Concert with Guest Artist Richard Mapp – Ashburton Trust Event Centre

2007

• 16 December – Christmas Concert at Geraldine – St Mary’s Church
• 14 December – Christmas Concerts at lunchtime and teatime – Baring Square Church
• 15 September – Gilbert and Sullivan with excerpts from The Gondoliers, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore
• 20 May – St Stephens on Sunday Concert Series – with guests Timaru District Choir

2006

• Easter Programme, including excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah” in Ashburton
• Christmas Concerts in Ashburton

2005

• Winter Concert in Ashburton
• Die Fledermaus at the Regent Theatre in Ashburton
• Bracket of songs for Christmas Lights on Chessboard in Ashburton
• Ashburton Santa Parade Float
• Christmas Concerts in Ashburton
• Late afternoon Christmas Concert at St Mary’s Church Geraldine

2004

• Public Concert featuring Schubert’s Mass in G Major in Ashburton
• Amahl and the Night Visitors featuring Judi Bellingham as Mother in Ashburton
• Ashburton Christmas parade Float
• Christmas Concerts in Ashburton
• Two brackets of numbers with the National Male Choir of NZ touring in Ashburton before leaving for their tour to Wales

2003

• Praise Be Television Programme recorded in Ashburton
• St Andrews Musical Extravaganza in Ashburton
• Civic Music Council Concert in Ashburton
• Ashburton Musical Club hosted our first full public concert
• Christmas Lunchtime concert in Ashburton

Funding Support
Choir members pay an annual subscription (currently $80).  The Choir is grateful for the financial support it has received to date from the Creative Community Arts scheme, the Ashburton Licencing Trust, The Mid/South Canterbury Trust and Aoraki Polytechnic.  Sponsorship has been received from Electricity Ashburton, Collins Mitre 10, Hastings McLeod Real Estate, Ashburton Finance, Robilliards Jewellers, Patersons Funeral Services, and Argyle Welsh Finnigan.

www.mcc.ashburtononline.co.nz

Choir Manager, Carol Gunn