Rehearsals are well under way for the Gisborne Choral Society’s first concert of the year, scheduled for May 26.
It will be a collection of folk songs and spirituals, with a mixture of fun pieces and sentimental favourites.
One item that is challenging the singers at the moment is a King’s Singers* arrangement of “Froggie Went A-Courtin’”, complete with “ribbits” and rhythmic clapping.
Half in jest, musical director Gavin Maclean has suggested a working title of “Sad, Mad and Bad” for the concert.
The programme has still to be finalised but the singers are working on a core repertoire of 20 songs.
Later in the year the choral society, which is enjoying an influx of new members, is planning a joint programme with the Hastings Choral Society. These shared arrangements come around every couple of years, giving both choirs the chance to sing works they might not otherwise tackle on their own. Items for this concert are still being finalised. One concert will be held in Gisborne and the other in Hastings.
*The King’s Singers are a Grammy-award-winning choral group from the UK, known for their mastery of vocal harmony. New Zealander and baritone Chris Bruerton has been a member of the group since 2012. They have been in New Zealand this month singing at the Festival of the Arts in Wellington, and in Auckland and Christchurch.
■ Gisborne Choral Society, Tuesdays, St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cobden St, 7.30pm.
