Cantores

Cantores is the senior choir of the Christchurch School of Music. It was founded five years ago at the behest of Brian Law, who is its music director. The choir averages 26 members, whose ages range from post–high school to mid-20s. A number of the choir’s members are in the National Youth Choir and over half are graduates of Burnside High School.

Since its inception, Cantores has attracted great interest, gaining a reputation for stylish performances of interesting and challenging repertoire. Last year its concert of 20th-century choral works by Ligeti, Gorecki, Stravinsky, Rubbra and Britten drew a large audience and enthusiastic critical acclaim. Indeed the choir has been hailed in The Press and The Christchurch Star as one of the finest chamber choirs in the country.

Cantores presents three or four afternoon concerts each year. This year the group was also invited to sing for the National Organists Convention in May and for the National Music Educators Convention in July. Upcoming concerts include a performance on 20 November as part of the NZSO’s Brahms Festival in Christchurch, and the final concert of the year on 30 November, when the group will perform Haydn’s Salve Regina and Paukenmesse with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.