Camerata, Waimea College’s concert choir, started in 2002 with 12 members. In 2003, a larger and immensely improved Camerata toured Northland. This was followed by a successful tour to Samoa in 2004. The choir combined with Belle a Cappella and the Waimea College Orchestra in 2006 to perform Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”. In 2008, Camerata participated in the school’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
In 2007, Camerata was handed over to student conductors for the first time, with great success. 2008 saw the choir receive it’s first award–Best Performance of a Pre-1930 Piece– at the Big Sing Nelson/ Marlborough Regional Competition in Blenheim.
In 2010 the choir will be taken over by our esteemed voice teacher, Barbara Grant. This is an exciting new direction for the group and we look forward to watching Camerata continue to reach higher and higher goals.
The choir now consists of about 40 members and rehearses for about one hour per week–more often in the lead-up to big events such as The Big Sing and the combined “Tutti” concert with the Waimea College & Greenhill Orchestras in August 2009 at the Nelson School of Music.
If you would like to know more about the Camerata commitment, click on the CAMERATA PACT 2009 below. All Camerata members (and conductors) sign the Pact to indicate they understand the commitment.
Camerata is designed to be a lighter commitment than some other ensembles, in terms of time, but the group still aims for the very best.
In short, Camerata members are expected to:
- attend the rehearsal camp (5-7 March 2010 at Bridge Valley)
- attend every weekly rehearsal (usually only one hour per week)
- attend weekly voice lessons (free lessons; students usually miss part of a class period to attend)
- perform occasionally– The Big Sing, Blenheim (miss one school day), school concerts, special events
- hire and look after their performance uniform
Click on the CAMERATA PACT above for more details and don’t hesitate to contact us with further enquiries:
Chris Burcin– bu@waimea.school.nz or 021711132
HOD Music & Performing Arts
Trish Sullivan–ts@waimea.school.nz or 544 6099 x897
Arts Co-Ordinator
