City Choir Dunedin

City Choir Dunedin City Choir Dunedin is for singers from all walks of life who share our delight in choral singing.

As Dunedin's leading exponent of large-scale choral works, City Choir Dunedin strives for the highest standards in performing the classics of the repertoire, such as Bach's "St Matthew Passion", Handel's "Messiah" and the Verdi "Requiem". The Choir also enjoys presenting contemporary works and commissions new choral works from New Zealand composers from time to time. The Choir provides a forum for

young, aspiring soloists and welcomes opportunities to perform with other choirs, such as the Invercargill A Capella Singers, the Auckland Choral Society, the Christchurch City Choir and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. The Choir is fortunate to have the orchestral support of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra for most of its concerts, and enjoy opportunities to perform with the NZSO (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra). Vision
It is the vision of City Choir Dunedin to be "A Choir of Note" in New Zealand. Mission
It is the mission of City Choir Dunedin to foster the enjoyment of choral music and present performances to a professional standard for the wider Dunedin community.

09/08/2026

"A most enjoyable family entertainment" (ODT, 10 Aug 2026)

COLLABORATION between The Little Box of Operas and City Choir Dunedin resulted in two performances of John Rutter’s The Reluctant Dragon on Saturday in Otago Boys’ High School Auditorium, conducted by David Burchell with artistic direction from Jenny Burchell. I attended the matinee — which was a full house. Children’s author Kenneth Grahame wrote a tale of villagers who call St George to rid them of a large dragon, but neither St George nor the dragon want to fight.
Rutter’s musical version featured some of Dunedin’s most promising young soloists, members of City Choir Dunedin (as the villagers) and Dunedin Youth Orchestra musicians with Sandra Crawshaw (piano). Teddy Finney Waters played the Dragon, Joseph Kelly took on the role of St George, Max Smith (4pm) and Alicia Chiruka (7.30pm) played the boy — these names feature regularly as winners in junior vocal competitions.
Philip Craigie was an excellent Narrator.
The story unfolded with a live storybook atmosphere due to about 60 members of City Choir Dunedin, colourfully attired, complete with bright wigs, hats and props.
Their movements and acting throughout contributed hugely to the success of the event — if only their consonants could be as impressive.
The final celebration picnic scene was spectacular and very believable.
The three appropriately costumed characters sang and acted out the tale, as the boy convinced the anxious dragon to fake the fight and pretend to die.
Their voices matched well with fast and true sung dialogue, and the actual swordfight’s rapid lunging and slashing of swords held some of the younger audience spellbound. Finney Waters in sparkling cloak and bright blue tights sang through a dragon­-inspired head mask (an impressive paper­mache creation by Caroline Burchell.)
Other works by Rutter were performed in the first half of the programme.
City Choir Dunedin sang Five Childhood Lyrics, a set of short choral songs based on traditional children’s rhymes, and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra strings performed Suite for String Orchestra, which features traditional English folk tunes.
It was most enjoyable family entertainment.

Saturday 8 August, 4pm and 7.30pm, St George and the Dragon fight it out to the delight of the crowd - oh, the emotion!....
07/08/2026

Saturday 8 August, 4pm and 7.30pm, St George and the Dragon fight it out to the delight of the crowd - oh, the emotion!.
Join us at OBHS auditorium for John Rutter's "The Reluctant Dragon". Cash sales at the door if you haven't bought your tickets yet.

Can't we all be friends, find a better way? The paths that we must tread lie side by side.We are very excited that this ...
06/08/2026

Can't we all be friends, find a better way? The paths that we must tread lie side by side.

We are very excited that this Saturday is performance day. "The Reluctant Dragon" (and "Five Childhood Songs" and "Serenade for Strings"), all by John Rutter, presented by City Choir Dunedin and Dunedin Youth Orchestra, direction by The Little Box of Operas.

Saturday 8th August, 4pm and 7.30pm at OBHS auditorium - cash sales at the door or online through Eventfinda.

Meet the Child at 7.30pm - Alicia Chiruka is a year 9 student atColumba College. She has been singing since the age of s...
05/08/2026

Meet the Child at 7.30pm - Alicia Chiruka is a year 9 student at
Columba College. She has been singing since the age of six
under the tuition of Judith Borick. She has competed
regularly in the Junior Vocal Competitions and SONGfest!,
and has been awarded more than 30 trophies. She has
previously performed in a production with the Dunedin
Children's Choir, sings with Cantus Columba, and regularly
performs as a soloist.

Enjoy the music of John Rutter, including the fun of "The Reluctant Dragon", this Saturday 8 August at 4pm and 7.30pm in the OBHS auditorium. Tickets still available through Eventfinda, or cash sales at MusicWorks and at the door.

Meet the Child - at 4pm.Max Smith is a Year 10 student at John McGlashan College. He studies singing with Elizabeth Boum...
04/08/2026

Meet the Child - at 4pm.
Max Smith is a Year 10 student at John McGlashan College. He studies singing with Elizabeth Bouman and is taught tap dancing and musical theatre by Denise Henderson. He regularly performs in both singing and tap dance competitions. Through John McGlashan College, Max performs Kapa Haka, is a vocalist with the jazz band and has been drummer and vocalist in band entries to Rockquest. He also plays tennis, representing Otago.

See the Child coach both the Dragon and St George in their legendary fight - The Reluctant Dragon this Saturday 8 August, 4pm and 7.30pm at OBHS auditorium. Tickets through Eventfinda, with cash sales at MusicWorks and at the door

Meet St George - Joseph Kelly is a Year 13 student at Trinity Catholic College. He has had over a decade of classical v...
03/08/2026

Meet St George - Joseph Kelly is a Year 13 student at Trinity Catholic College. He has had over a decade of classical vocal training, most recently with Judy Bellingham. He has performed solo roles in Opera Otago's A Christmas Carol, Taieri Musical Society's Mary Poppins, and Frozen and Lion King Jr, Trinity College’s Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Little Mermaid. Joseph plays the organ at First Church and St Paul’s Cathedral. He is a tenor in the NZ Secondary Students Choir, and a choral scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Come to see St George take on the Dragon - this Saturday 8 August, 4pm and 7.30pm at OBHS auditorium, with City Choir Dunedin, The Little Box of Operas and Dunedin Youth Orchestra.
Ticket sales through Eventfinda or cash sales at MusicWorks and at the door.

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16 Maryhill Terrace, Mornington
Dunedin

Telephone

+64276844118

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