About us
Girls’ Choir Ōtautahi (formerly The Christchurch Girls’ Choir) was founded in February 2018 by Shannon Hurley and Andrea Koorey in partnership with the Christchurch School of Music.
The Choir was created due to a lack of choral singing opportunities in the Christchurch area for girls aged 10-17 years old. The Choir’s repertoire covers a range of genres and styles, including Classical, Folk, Pop and Musical Theatre.
Click here to meet the team.
Our mission:
“To promote choral artistry in an open, joyful and nurturing environment. Through practice, performance and education, singers build their skills and emerge as confident young women with a lifelong love of singing.”
Our choirs
In addition to the full Christchurch Girls’ Choir, there are also two sub-choirs: the Chorale, and the Chamber Choir. Members start in the Chorale then, when they are 12 years of age, they become eligible to audition for the more challenging Chamber Choir.
These smaller ensembles offer a more intimate choral environment matched to where each person is in their musical development journey, empowering all Choir members with an opportunity to shine.
Performance opportunities
Since its inception, the Choir have performed in many key venues around town such as the Christchurch Town Hall, The Piano, The Arts Centre Great Hall, The Transitional Cathedral, Papa Hou and The Air Force Museum.
In addition to hosting their own concerts, Girls’ Choir Ōtautahi is also active in the music community of Christchurch. They have participated in the annual Voices Festival, and have good working relationships with other local music groups and organisations, including the Canterbury Plainsmen chorus, Greenstone Academy, and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Other opportunities
Older and more experienced members of the Choir are encouraged to consider the opportunity of taking on additional senior leadership roles and responsibilities.
These might include gaining experience in conducting a choir, assisting in the delivery of music theory sessions, leading Girls’ Choir warm-up exercises and musical games, and peer-supporting the younger Girls’ Choir members during social events such as the annual choir camp.