About

City Choir Dunedin exists for people of all ages and from all walks of life who share a common delight in choral singing. We aim to be a "A Choir of Note" in New Zealand.

City Choir Dunedin presents Handel's Messiah, December 2015.  Photo: Sean Waller

As Dunedin’s leading exponent of large-scale choral works, the choir strives for the highest standards in performing the classics of the repertoire, such as Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, the Beethoven Ninth and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.

In addition, the choir has performed major new compositions by New Zealand composers, such as Missa Pacifica by David Hamilton in 2006, and John Drummond’s The Journey Home in 2012. For its 125th anniversary the choir commissioned a new work from Malcolm (Jack) Speirs: Cantico del Sole, and for its 150th anniversary celebrations the choir commissioned a new work from Christopher Marshall:  For What Can Be More Beautiful?

The Choir provides a forum for young, aspiring soloists and welcomes opportunities to perform with other choirs, such as the Invercargill A Capella Singers and the Auckland Choral Society.

The Choir's membership stands at around 140 and is usually involved in four or five concerts a year. The Choir regularly performs with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and occasionally have performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Click here to read the formal vision and mission of City Choir Dunedin.

History

Explore the early history of City Choir Dunedin.
Extracting Mr Wolf's new Choral Society from its mythological future, by Dr Jenny Burchell.
City Choir Dunedin celebrated 150 Years in 2013.

Administration

City Choir Dunedin is administered by the Dunedin Choral Society Incorporated, limited to and exclusively for charitable purposes, in New Zealand. The society is registered with the New Zealand Charities Services as a charitable organisation (registration number: CC29845).  The activities of the Choir are administered by a Committee, elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Principal Officers

Patron	Professor Anthony Ritchie
Vice Patron	His Worship Mayor Aaron Hawkins
Music Patron	Professor Terence Dennis MNZM
President	Deborah Dons
Vice Presidents	Associate Professor Peter Adams, Associate Professor Judy Bellingham, Dr Harvey Brown, Dr Colin Gibson MNZ,  Dame Elizabeth Hanan DNZM, Mrs Agnes Hodges, Ms Honor McKellar QSM
Life Members	Dr Harvey Brown, Dr Colin Gibson, Mrs Agnes Hodges, Mr Roland Storm, Mrs Joy Smith, Mrs Glennie Jamieson, Mr Bill Dawson, Mrs Gillian Watson, Mrs Clare Kennelly, Mrs Judy Tucker

David Burchell, Musical Director

Musical Director

David Burchell became the Choir's Musical Director in January 2000. Read more about David...

Accompanist

Roland Storm

Assistant Conductor

Mark Anderson

Committee

Chairperson	Warren Tate
Musical Director	David Burchell
Secretary	John Matthews
Treasurer	Rosi Crane
Librarian	Maud Schröder
Membership Secretary	Jan Stevens
Publicity & Production	Leta Labuschagne
Stage Manager	Nigel Tucker
Venue bookings	Leta Labuschagne
H&S Chair	Nigel Tucker
Sales table	Anneloes de Groot
NZCF Representative	Scott Blackwell

Other Officers

Choir Marshall	Rebecca Westoby
Music Folders Co-ordinator	Christine Ogilvy
Suppers Co-ordinator	Lyn Dowsett
Archive Collector	Rosi Crane
Fire Wardens	Scott Blackwell, Nigel Tucker
Webmaster	Leta Labuschagne
Honorary Solicitor	Alistair Logan

Funding

The Choir receives a small annual city service grant from the Dunedin City Council.