He was joined onstage by popular acts Annie Crummer, Jason Kerrison, Ali Harper, Simon O'Neill and Tizane McEvoy.
The concert was ticketed for the first time this year as a result of the venue change, and tickets were snapped up less than an hour after they became available at 9.30am.
Pre-show entertainment began at 5pm, getting the crowd dancing in their seats as gold coin collectors made their way around collecting for the Special Olympics.
The indoor venue, clever lighting and the upbeat warm up acts brought everyone out of their shells for the night.
Ngati Rangiwewehi and Darcy Flavell officially begun the concert at 7pm, providing a wero to the performers, who were represented by Ngahere Ngatai from The Koi Boys.
Trapeze act The Dust Palace wowed alongside first time performer, 14-year-old Anahera Waiariki, performing When You Wish Upon a Star.
Crowds enjoyed the variety of music, from opera, to musicals, to current hits, but it was The Koi Boys who stole the show, with mayor Steve Chadwick joining them to dance on stage.
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra rounded out the evening with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
Concert organiser Ian Edward said the night couldn't have gone better.
"Last night was as good as it could ever be," he said.
"Each of the elements brought their special moment, there were so many special moments."
He sang the praises of artistic director Tim Beveridge for his ability to blend together the range of musical numbers.
"What we were able to put on is something that is uniquely Rotorua and it has its place the New Zealand music industry," he said.
"As a concert, it's international quality and I'm really thrilled with last night."
