Finale Choir Feature: The Sweet Sixteen Choir

The Sweet Sixteen singing for the Sir Peter Snell, Sir Murray Halberg, Sir John Walker and the New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand in the Civic Theatre, Auckland

THE SWEET SIXTEEN CHOIR
Aorere College

The Sweet Sixteen Choir continue a tradition of excellence in choral singing at Aorere College. The choir has consistently ranked in the top choirs in Auckland representing Auckland at NZCF Big Sing Nationals numerous times. In 2009 the choir was also featured on the 60 Minutes programme “Feel the Spirit.” The college’s music department has produced many notable musicians, including present members of the Voices New Zealand, the NZ Youth Choir, and the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir.

The Sweet Sixteen was awarded Silver in the New Zealand Choral Federation Nationals in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, along with singing as the backup choir for Evermore in their Auckland concert, the choir was also awarded the NZCF Youth Ambassadors Trophy for the choir which most presented themselves as role models for other choirs. In 2008 the Sweet Sixteen were awarded the NZCF Maori Performance award for the finest performance of a work in Te Reo Maori. An Aorere Old Girl Awhina Waimotu, presently a student of music at Victoria University, was the choreographer and arranger of “He Honore” the winning piece. Her composition, “Te Atua” was performed by the Sweet Sixteen at the NZCF Big Sing Nationals in August, 2010 after winning the 2010 Sounz choral competition prize for the best student composition of the year.

This year the Sweet Sixteen will sing a new song by Don McGlashan live for 100 million viewers at the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony on September 9th. They are also featured on TV1’s “The Road to the Big Sing”. The choir is directed by the HOD Music at Aorere College, Douglas L. Nyce.