About Us
Formed in 1970 by Andrew Baines (now resident in London) and a small group of friends, Cantoris was established as a chamber choir with a strong focus on Early Music. Over the last 40 plus years, Cantoris has explored a diverse repertoire of choral music and broadened its range to include works of all sizes, from a range of genres and eras.
Cantoris has been privileged to enjoy expert direction from talented musical directors such as Robert Oliver QSM, Peter Godfrey CBE, Rachel Hyde, Richard Apperley, Brian O'Regan and Donald Maurice MNZM, to name a few. You can read more about our current and past directors here.
Cantoris has been privileged to enjoy expert direction from talented musical directors such as Robert Oliver QSM, Peter Godfrey CBE, Rachel Hyde, Richard Apperley, Brian O'Regan and Donald Maurice MNZM, to name a few. You can read more about our current and past directors here.
The choir’s past repertoire extends from the fifteenth century to the present day. It has had particularly notable successes in the late seventies and early eighties with its performances of baroque music – performing on many occasions with The Baroque Players and in 1986 filled the Town Hall at the first original instrument performance in Australasia of Handel’s Messiah, a triumph that it followed by performances of Belshazzar, Samson, and a programme of French baroque music. In 2014 Cantoris along with 11 other international choirs were invited to sing at Carnegie Hall, New York, in honour of composer Karl Jenkins' 70th birthday celebration. The performance included the US premiere of The Bards of Wales.
Cantoris regularly performs three concerts a year, many of which have been recorded and broadcast by Radio NZ on Concert FM. And we rehearse weekly on Wednesday 7:30pm-9:30pm, at St Andrew’s on The Terrace.
We are always keen to welcome new members; no audition necessary, just good sight reading skills, some singing experience and plenty of enthusiasm for a wide range of musical styles. If you are interested in singing with us, why not come along to our rehearsals for a couple of weeks to see if Cantoris is right for you? You can find out more information, here.
Cantoris continues to sing the widest possible range of repertoire and we look forward to delighting the senses and inspiring the soul with our performances.
Cantoris regularly performs three concerts a year, many of which have been recorded and broadcast by Radio NZ on Concert FM. And we rehearse weekly on Wednesday 7:30pm-9:30pm, at St Andrew’s on The Terrace.
We are always keen to welcome new members; no audition necessary, just good sight reading skills, some singing experience and plenty of enthusiasm for a wide range of musical styles. If you are interested in singing with us, why not come along to our rehearsals for a couple of weeks to see if Cantoris is right for you? You can find out more information, here.
Cantoris continues to sing the widest possible range of repertoire and we look forward to delighting the senses and inspiring the soul with our performances.
