Choir’s concert for founder

Lynn Whiteside (left), musical director and conductor of Wanganui Community Choir with pianist and former WHS student Abby Livesay.
PHOTO / Supplied

The Wanganui Community Choir is in the final week of preparation for their mid year concert.

It will be a celebration in memory of the choir’s founder, Teiron Jones, who died suddenly last year.

Guest artists: Winifred Livesay — Started studying voice in her late teens then went to the US to continue studying at two music schools in Oregon and New Jersey. Win has worked as a soloist in opera, light opera, oratorio and as a recitalist then back in New Zealand as a chamber music musician.

Brass Whanganui Ensemble — much loved in Whanganui, they recently had great results from the Central Districts Solo competition, with Jonathon Greenwell winning the open air Verie and the Juniors winning the same event.

Aydie Holland — a member of Metamorphosis, One Trick Pony and The Wanganui Ukulele Orchestra brings a new feel to old jazz standards.

The Choir and the Community Youth Choir will be singing favourites of Teiron who brought to the choir Negro spirituals, African, Sacred, Classical, Ma¯ ori and show tunes.

Artists will showcase a favourite of his, and also bring some pieces of their own.

Teiron, a Welshman, was a multi-talented, and multi travelled musician who came to Wanganui from Zambia in 1991 to teach at Wanganui High School, and who formed The Wanganui Youth and Community Choir.

He was a conductor and founder of many choirs around the world, singer of professional opera, oratorio and concert.

As an instrumentalist, he had a natural talent for playing many instruments, and also created steel bands, using drums he made himself out of recycled oil drums.

As a teacher he taught music in the UK, New Zealand, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Oman.

As a writer he wrote a book entitled The Easy Way To Successful Sight Singing.

He was also a composer and arranger.

Teiron was a foundation member of the New Zealand Singers, New Zealand’s first national representative choir.

He was an honorary member of the National Ma¯ ori Choir of New Zealand through his association locally with Morvin

Simon and his interaction with Ma¯ ori singers and choirs.

The choir is excited to be presenting many popular and much loved songs for all to enjoy.

SINGING YOU A SONG concert is on Saturday, May 26, 2pm at Central Baptist Church, Cnr Wicksteed and Dublin streets. Tickets are available at Visitor Information Centre i-Site Whanganui, 31 Taupo Quay.

Wanganui Midweek 23/5/18