Lions Club – our major sponsor!

We are proud that the Lions Clubs of District 202E are our Principal Sponsor.

The Lions Clubs have supported the financially for many years and we are grateful that they recognise the positive impact that the Music festival has on the Christchurch community.

Our 73rd year!

2012 is 73 years on from when the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival started in 1939.

The festival has come a long way from the first few tentative steps in pre-war Christchurch, and the original Civic Theatre where it was held has long since disappeared.

But the principle objective remains – to help schools to foster excellence in music-making.

The venue may have changed but the excellence continues!

Holiday Course

A three-day intensive course of training and preparation for the festival.

Training is given by conductors and tutors to the festival special group musicians in both full-group and sectional sessions.

Conductors

Conductors with skills to burn!

The massed choirs and representative choirs are trained and conducted by highly-skilled musicians who are able to bring out the best performances from each group in the festival.

Massed Choirs

Approximately 1250 Year 5 – 8 pupils from school choirs representing a selection of Christchurch and West Coast schools sing at each performance of the 3-day Festival.

At each evening, a different set of schools sing the twelve or so massed choir items accompanied by piano, organ, Concert Band or Orchestra.

Concert Band

A Concert Band of approximately 50 musicians selected by audition from Year 5 – 8 pupils from Christchurch primary and intermediate schools.

The Concert Band plays its own bracket of items and also accompanies the Massed Choirs in a bracket of songs.

Junior Representative Choir

A choir of approximately 100 singers from Years 5 & 6 selected by audition from pupils throughout Christchurch primary schools.

The choir sings its own bracket of songs and also provides harmony and parts for the massed choir items.

Senior Representative Choir

A choir of approximately 100 singers from Years 7 & 8 selected by audition from pupils throughout Christchurch primary and intermediate schools.

The choir sings its own bracket of songs and also provides harmony and parts for the massed choir items.

Orchestra

A full symphony orchestra of approximately 70 musicians from Years 5 – 8 selected by audition from pupils throughout Christchurch primary and intermediate schools.

The orchestra plays its own bracket of music and also accompanies the massed choirs in a couple of finale items.