Southern Consort of Voices
Encyclopedia
Southern Consort of Voices is an SATB
adult mixed voice choir, based in Dunedin
, New Zealand
.
Southern Consort was first set up in Dunedin
in 1980 by Professor Jack Speirs. As the conductor of the Southern Consort, he introduced audiences to a new palette of choral sounds, bringing contemporary music back from Europe by composers such as John Tavener
, Arvo Pärt
, and James MacMillan.
Through the choir he also championed many New Zealand composers, including several composers-in-residence at Otago University, and supported a number of students in learning the art of conducting. In addition, there have been many joint ventures or partnerships between the University of Otago Music Department and Southern Consort, a tradition that has continued over the last decade.
Since Jack Speirs’s time, subsequent conductors included Holly Matheson (2000-1), Andrew Crooks (2002), Maureen Smith
(2003–2006) and current director Daniel Kelly
(2006–2010). The choir's patron is Honor McKeller. The choir celebrated it’s 30th anniversary in June this year (2010).
The choir is SATB mixed voice, and takes on new members by audition. It performs as many as half a dozen concerts per year, and rehearsals are weekly.
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
adult mixed voice choir, based in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Southern Consort was first set up in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
in 1980 by Professor Jack Speirs. As the conductor of the Southern Consort, he introduced audiences to a new palette of choral sounds, bringing contemporary music back from Europe by composers such as John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
, Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian classical composer and one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-made compositional technique, tintinnabuli. His music also finds its inspiration and influence from...
, and James MacMillan.
Through the choir he also championed many New Zealand composers, including several composers-in-residence at Otago University, and supported a number of students in learning the art of conducting. In addition, there have been many joint ventures or partnerships between the University of Otago Music Department and Southern Consort, a tradition that has continued over the last decade.
Since Jack Speirs’s time, subsequent conductors included Holly Matheson (2000-1), Andrew Crooks (2002), Maureen Smith
Maureen Smith
Maureen Smith was a third-party candidate for President of the United States in the United States presidential election, 1980. She represented the Peace and Freedom Party and her running mate was Elizabeth Cervantes Barron. She has also served as the chair of the party from 1978–80, 86-88,...
(2003–2006) and current director Daniel Kelly
Daniel Kelly
Daniel Kelly was an American long jumper and sprinter.He attended the University of Oregon, where in 1906, he equaled the world records in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes in the same day...
(2006–2010). The choir's patron is Honor McKeller. The choir celebrated it’s 30th anniversary in June this year (2010).
The choir is SATB mixed voice, and takes on new members by audition. It performs as many as half a dozen concerts per year, and rehearsals are weekly.