 Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings, from 7.30 to 10.30 p.m. The Chorus uses the Performing Arts Centre at Cashmere High School, entrance off Barrington Street. Our Story The Christchurch City Chorus of Sweet Adelines International was founded by Bridget Byrne and Virginia Humphrey-Taylor in 1985 and has grown from a handful of interested women who met in Virginia's sitting room to an internationally recognised, world-class barbershop chorus that has a membership of over 130 women in 2009. Our Chorus is dedicated to advancing the barbershop art form and enriching the lives of members and the community through friendship, education, performance and musical excellence. We are extensively involved in the arts and musical performance scene in Christchurch and Canterbury, and undertake many singing engagements in the community. Our charitable work includes a partnership with Christchurch City Mission that allows us to channel the energy and skills of the women in our chorus to assist the Mission with donations and volunteer work with a musical dimension. In 1988 Virginia Humphrey-Taylor became the Musical Director, and has continued to be so since. Under her direction, the Christchurch City Chorus is New Zealand’s most successful barbershop chorus. It has won first place each of the seven times it has competed in National competitions. Our Chorus has represented Christchurch and New Zealand when competing on the International stage in 1991 (San Antonio), 1995 (New Orleans), 2001 (Portland), 2004 (Indianapolis), and 2007 (Calgary, Canada) when we became the first chorus from the Southern Hemisphere to break into the ‘Top 10’ at an international competition, winning the 9th place medal. As a result of the increasing reputation of Virginia and the chorus, the Chorus was invited to perform in Carnegie Hall in New York. This opportunity is a rare one, and one that musicians the world over would put as a golden moment in their careers, should it come along. On 16 February 2009, 75 singers had the honour of singing a distinctively New Zealand package of songs at Carnegie Hall. Our Director – Virginia Humphrey-Taylor  Virginia was a co-founder of the Christchurch City Chorus in 1985 and director since 1988. She was the first New Zealand Sweet Adeline chorus director to achieve over 600 points in a competition. This earned her the internationally recognised title of ‘Master Director’ – the first in New Zealand and still one of only four in New Zealand who have achieved that distinction.  Virginia is rated highly both in New Zealand and overseas as a choral coach and director. She frequently coaches both local and national women’s and men’s barbershop quartets to assist them to develop their skills. In 2009 Bob Parker, the Mayor of Christchurch, presented Virginia with a Civic Award and Civic Medal for outstanding contribution and service to music in Christchurch Our Education Programme On-going education and training for chorus members is a top priority. New members have six weeks of free vocal lessons; all members are encouraged to attend local, regional and international classes. Virginia mentors a team of leaders within the chorus, ensuring that they are able to access international level training and development. The Christchurch City Chorus typically hosts three international coaches a year. Members of the Chorus have been instrumental in promoting barbershop music in secondary schools through the Young Singers in Harmony Programme. Two Cashmere High School quartets have represented Christchurch and New Zealand on the international stage, the first quartet ‘Backchat’ winning the first place prize! As a result of this work barbershop singing is a fast growing musical art form in New Zealand high schools. The Young Singers Foundation was started by the Christchurch City Chorus to promote young singers in Canterbury, and offer them camaraderie, mentoring, friendship and opportunities to sing together. Community Involvement Whilst the chorus is always fundraising for its own development the chorus is outward-looking in giving back to the community, not for money but for the joy of giving. The chorus is extensively involved in the Christchurch and Canterbury community in events such as: • Carols by Candlelight celebrations on Christmas Eve in Victoria Square • The guest choir at the Christchurch City Mission Christmas Service in the Christchurch Cathedral • Christmas Carol singing in shopping malls, rest homes, and community centres • ‘Praise Be’ and Canterbury Television • Hosting Young People in Harmony competitions • ‘Christmas in the Park’ • Christchurch City Mission volunteers' day • Lyttelton Community Festival of Lights • Christchurch City Council - Edmonds Garden open day • James Hay Theatre, public concert with the world champion women's barbershop quartet - 'The Buzz' from the USA • September 2008 - James Hay Theatre, Christchurch, annual Chorus show, with support from community sponsors, and local guest artists. |