Nor'West News: November 24, 2022

Thursday November 24 2022 5
The Cecilian Singers mark 40 years
ALTHOUGH NOW in their
42nd year, The Cecilian Singers
are celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the choir, with a
special concert at The Piano on
November 26.
An equal voice choir for
women, The Cecilian Singers
was founded in 1981 by Nan Anderson.
It is an auditioned choir
with a varied repertoire, ranging
from medieval to modern, both
sacred and secular.
The choir quickly established
a national reputation with
broadcasts on Radio New
Zealand and Praise Be.
It has also recorded two CDs
that went to No. 1 on Concert
NZ Classical Hits. Works by
New Zealand composers, some
especially commissioned, are
frequently performed and the
choir has twice travelled to
Australia to showcase New
Zealand music.
There has always been an
emphasis on supporting local
musicians and encouraging
outstanding talent. Featured
artists have included Teddy
Tahu Rhodes, Ann Lamont
Lowe, Louisa Pilkington,
Helen Charlton, and many
Thursday 24th-Saturday
to 26th November.
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instrumentalists who have gone
on to NZSO or international
careers.
Over the past 40 years, the
Cecilians have performed at
least 100 times at concerts, plus
events like weddings and music
festivals. Events range from
poetry and music at the Old
Municipal Chambers, to singing
in Hebrew with the Washington
Women’s Choir at the Great Hall.
They have performed at many
iconic Christchurch venues that
were casualties of the February
22, 2011 earthquake – the
Provincial Council Chambers, St
JOYOUS: The Celician Singers choir has been performing for more than
four decades.
Luke’s Church, the Music Centre
Chapel and The Chapel of St
John of God in Halswell.
The choir has been fortunate
to have worked under the baton
of only four music directors in
its history. Nan Anderson, who
received the QSM in 2020 for
services to choral music, was the
director for 27 years. Anderson
was followed by Jean Cumming,
JIG
Rosemary Allison
SAWS
and the
current director, renowned
contralto Rosemary Turnbull.
As has been the case for so
many organisations, the choir’s
original plans for celebrating
the milestone were disrupted
by Covid-19, resulting in
three cancellations of planned
concerts.
The celebration on Saturday
will be the culmination of two
years of planning, rehearsing,
and waiting.
It will offer traditional and
modern classical compositions
(Brahms, Britten and Orban)
and a piece by NZ composer
David Hamilton. The choir will
be accompanied by pianist Sarah
Kang, harpist Helen Webby
and Emma Eden and Bernard
Shapiro on horns.
for the whole family
A word from Ilam MP
Sarah
Pallett
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For many working families here in
Canterbury, childcare is one of their
biggest household costs. That’s why,
as part of our Government’s work
to support New Zealanders with
the cost of living, we are making
childcare more affordable for low
and middle income families.
We recently announced that we’re
significantly expanding childcare
assistance, cutting costs for working
parents and supporting more
children into early education.
On top of this, we are further
boosting Working for Families and
the Best Start payment, providing
more support.
These changes will kick in from
1 April next year. The exact amount
families will save on childcare costs
will depend on the number of hours
they work, the wages they are on, the
number of hours of childcare per day,
and the cost of their early childcare
education centre.
For example, a Canterbury family
with two parents both working
40 hours per week on $26 per hour
with two children under five would
not have been eligible for childcare
assistance, but now will be eligible
for $252 per week.
Childcare assistance has been
neglected for more than a decade
since income thresholds were frozen
by National in 2010. I’m really proud
that the changes we are making will
see thousands of parents given the
choice to do what’s best for their
family.
These next steps will build on the
work that we have already done to
ease cost of living pressures on
New Zealanders.
As always, I’m here to help. Please
get in touch on 0800 727 244 or
pop into my office if you need any
assistance.
Funded by Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Sarah Pallett MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.