A Motueka High School choir’s community engagement hit just the right note for the judges of the New Zealand Choral Federation’s recent Big Sing event in Blenheim.
Suono Bellissimo, which is Italian for ‘beautiful sound’, was chosen for the Ministry of Youth Development Spirit of the Festival award, along with $500 for the school.
The award is given to choirs that demonstrate outstanding leadership, community participation, collaboration and innovation, and director Hilary Sinclair, who is also the school’s music head of department, says that the group was “thrilled to get the award in recognition of their work, which of which is in their own time”.
Over the years and with new members joining and others graduating at the end of their school journey, the choir has performed at rest homes, community concerts, schools, kindergartens, and even as a flash mob at New World supermarket.
Hilary says that as well as gaining vocal and musicianship skills, the youth experience the benefits of teamwork and collaboration, as well as developing confidence in presenting themselves to an audience.
“The choir is always a lovely bunch of people that I enjoy working with. Many grads have told me how much they enjoyed and gained from being in their version of Suono Bellissimo,” she says.
