Choir on hold for major competition

COMRADES-IN-SINGING: Viva Camerata chills out at music camp at the beginning of this year.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Singers pinning their hopes on performing at finale in August

Viva Camerata, the combined choir of Rathkeale College and St Matthew's Collegiate School has been named third reserve at the national final of the Big Sing, the national group-singing competition for secondary schools.

At the conclusion of the regional festivals, 24 choirs are invited to participate in a national finale in August and compete for bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards.

The Big Sing committee also chooses up to four guest choirs to attend the national finale.

Viva Camerata are third on the reserve list, meaning that they will be competing at the finale if three of the invited choirs are unable to attend.

It also means they were 27th out of 252 choirs in the original competition.

Choir conductor and dean of the senior college, Kiewiet van Deventer, said Viva practises twice a week but put in many extra hours before the regional Big Sing. "The name highlights what we are about - the camaraderie of singing.

"We sing at many school events including house music, the trinity service, prizegivings and carol services, and also at local events such as ANZAC services and conferences.

"Our most recent performance, outside of the Big Sing competition, was at the National Association of Integrated Schools' conference in Wellington, where we received a standing ovation." The Big Sing national finale will be in Auckland on August 21-23.