A Capellago World Music Choir - songs of passion and hope from around the world...

This funky dynamic choir are always remembered for the huge amount of 'heart they bring to a performance. Well loved for their rhythmic stirring songs from Cuba and the Middle East, A Capellago will also move you to tears with their gentler songs that explore the human condition. This is their first performance for the Christchurch Folk Club, and they will present a mix of world music plus their own arrangements of some of the great folk masters, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Sarah McGloughlin, Paul Kelly as well as classic Kiwi icon Neil Finn, and A Capellago's own original songs.


This twenty five member choir have been together under the direction of founder, Nikki Berry for over ten years, and like any community group, have been through many changes. This year, the strength is in the 'bottom end' with a large bass section and as many tenors as we can manage. (Tenors are a force to be managed when they get going!). Nikki is pleased to be featuring the men at this concert, and also the variety of different voices with at least 10 different soloists throughout the night.

When Nikki Berry moved to Christchurch from Australia 19 years ago, having experienced the vibrant multi-cultural music scene of Sydney and Adelaide, and with expectations of a Polynesian influenced music scene, she was disappointed to find that it was easier for her to meet Maori musicians in Sydney then in Christchurch! Arriving with a young baby, she wasn't in a good position to search, and so set about drawing others around her to sing. Nikki pulled several groups around her over the years, and one of them eventually morphed into the Global Choir. After a year of rotating the conducting, and experiencing the joy of singing world music together, Nikki led a workshop at Convergence festival and realised how much fun it was to have the driving seat to herself. Not wanting to let this group go, she decided to start A Capellago.

Since then, not only have both choirs thrived; but many other small world music choirs have emerged. Nikki runs courses for people who think they can't sing at the University and the Polytech, and with a small group of dedicated volunteers has started a centre aimed at revitalizing community music. (The Muse @ 140 Barbadoes St.) Before long, we'll be known not only as the garden city, but as singing city!

www.sing.co.nzlacapellago


Support: Michael Braithwaite (singer/songwriter with original material.)