News Story

Kiwi Singer Brings BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir Home for Performances

New Zealander Paul Tovey is one of 45 performers from the Brigham Young University-Hawaii Concert Choir heading to New Zealand for a series of shows and educational workshops this month.

Tovey, a student at BYU-Hawaii, will catch up with family and friends while he is here, and also serve as cultural interpreter for his fellow choir members.

“The choir is a select group of students, both music majors and non-music majors alike, from various countries all over the world,” according to the BYU-Hawaii website.

“Both in membership and repertoire, the choir reflects the diversity and excellence of BYU–Hawaii, a comprehensive undergraduate university with students from over 75 countries.”

“With a wide range of styles and genres, the BYU–Hawaii Concert Choir features a varied assortment of pieces incorporating classic choral literature, European art songs, religious anthems, American musical theater tunes, as well as various types of international folk music into their exciting and moving presentation. The choir is consistently distinguished for its ability to connect with its audience as performers celebrate messages of harmony, family values, peace, love, and joy.”

The choir will perform “Music of the Islands” at Hamilton’s Founders Theatre on Thursday, 13 June at 7pm. Choirs from local high schools will also perform on the program.

Moving north, the choir will perform on Saturday 15 June, 7pm, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, in Auckland. Entry will be by gold coin donation with all proceeds going to De Paul House, a Catholic charity in the Auckland suburb of Northcote that provides housing and other support services to individuals and families in need.

The Concert Choir will then perform at Te Papa in Wellington on 18 June as part of the city's Matariki program.  The concert will feature support act "The Rookies" quartet from Aotea College, 2012 Wellington schools champion and a flash mob in Te Papa Foyer at noon.

The choir will also perform in Porirua at Te Rauparaha Arena at 7pm. Admission to both Wellington concerts is free. Those attending the Porirua concert are invited to bring a food donation for The Salvation Army food bank.

In addition to the performances, workshops will be held at various high schools, where students will become actively involved with the choir.

Brigham Young University-Hawaii president, Steven C. Wheelwright, and noted professor of music and voice Michael K. Belnap, will accompany the choir.

“We are delighted that the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir is coming to New Zealand,” says Muriel Samuela, who, with her husband, Junior, are national tour coordinators.

“The choir members and their leaders are excited, and prepared. The students who will workshop with them, and all who come to the concerts are in for a fantastic experience.”

Watch a YouTube video of the choir singing “Battle of Jericho.”

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