The Big Sing 2001.

Friday June the 1st 2001. A day which was very important to Manawatu vocal participants in the 2001 Big Sing participants and their teachers. The hard work was over, and it was now time to focus on performance. Choirs had come from various places around the Manawatu to attend the Regional Choral Festival 2001, which is now known as the "Big Sing". 

The Big Sing is a nation-wide competition run by the New Zealand Choral Federation for Secondary School level choirs to enter. The competition begins at the regional stage around the country for all choirs, and from all the choirs which enter the regionals 3 or 4 are selected for recommendation to attend the National Finale. From the 40 or so choirs recommended nationally, this number is whittled down to the 20 best choirs overall who then progress to the National Finale (in Christchurch in 2001 and Auckland in 2002).  

After disappointments in 1999 and 2000 where the OK Chorale wasn't recommended to attend the National Finale, this year the group went in confident, if slightly under-rehearsed by the standards of some(!), to an important competition. 

The boys knew they would face tough competition on the day from some of the leading vocal groups of the region, namely Schola Cantorum from Palmerston North Girls High School and Cantate Novus from Wairarapa College (both were 2000 Regional representatives at the National Finale) . 

On the day, the boys performed exceptionally - with a glowing report received shortly after the event. Three choirs were recommended from the experience: OK Chorale, Schola Cantorum & Cantate Novus. 

After the recommendations were announced, the groups waited nervously to await confirmation to attend the National Choral Finale in Christchurch. Just over a week later, the results came through and it turned out that this year the OK Chorale and Cantate Novus were to go to the festival - with Schola unfortunately missing out this time.

This confirmation was the signal to begin extending the repertoire of the OK Chorale, and to arrange everything for the groups time in Christchurch. 

Currently, the Chorale are hastily assembling a new repertoire, and without revealing too much, we are very pleased with how it is sounding, although a lot of work still needs to be put in.

Results of the Chorales' placing at the National competition will be published on this site shortly after the Festival.

If you would like to hear the OK Chorale live in concert, check out our Performance Diary for details of when you can next hear us.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! The OK Chorale won a gold award at the Nationals and were the only all-male choir to do so! 5 choirs won gold - all others were totally female choirs.

Gold Winners 2001 -

Bel Canto - Burnside High School, Christchurch

Craighead Chorale - Craighead Diocesan School, Timaru

Key Cygnetures - Westlake Girls High School, Takapuna, Auckland

Saints Alive - St Cuthberts College, Auckland

The OK Chorale - Palmerston North Boys High School, Palmerston North