Rotorua choir to celebrate New Zealand life

The Rotorua District Choir is giving two concerts with a theme of all things New Zealand next week. Photo/Supplied

The Rotorua District Choir is giving two concerts with a theme of all things New Zealand and celebrating our way of life.

Titled "New Zealand Life and Land" the concerts will be held at St Luke's Anglican Church on Pukuatua St on Saturday May 26 at 7.30pm and Sunday May 27 at 2pm.

Elizabeth Pilaar is conducting and the choir will be singing songs from collections written by New Zealand composer David Hamilton including "Down on the Farm" and "A NZ Aviary" as well as selections from a new collection entitled "Shaky Places" by Wellingtonian Felicia Edgecombe.

The concerts will celebrate New Zealand life with songs and poems about farming, native birds, getting lost in the bush, and learning to drive.

There will be poetry by local poet Amanda Hunt, music by Christian Pilaar, and some typical kiwi refreshments in the interval.

Admission will be the purchase of the programme at the door.

The choir's next concert in September will have a more traditional programme with Vivaldi's "Gloria" and some choral favourites like "Zadok the Priest". Rehearsals start on June 5 and new members are welcome.

New conductor, Jess Bradley, will be conducting this concert.