Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, November 2, 2023
More than 130 choirs from around the world have registered for the World Choir Games (WCG), New Zealand’s major international music event of 2024.
Organisers of the mega event, which will be held in Auckland from July 10 to July 20, 2024, expect more than 250 participants to register by the time entries close in December 2023.
Established in 2000, the WCG is the largest choral festival and competition in the world.
Described as the Olympics of Choral Singing, the Games bring together choirs from all over the world in a joyful celebration of singing, creativity, diversity, friendship, and peace.
After a lengthy bid process, New Zealand was selected as the host for the 2024 event.
Encouraging Numbers
WCG 2024 Artistic and Games Director John Rosser said, “We are hugely encouraged by the initial registration numbers, which exceeded our expectations. If we remain on this trajectory, Auckland will welcome more than 10,000 singers all over the world in July 2024.”
He said that entries have thus far come from 20 countries including Australia, Austria, Britain, Burkina Faso, China, Croatia, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea and the USA.
“We anticipate that the final number of countries represented will approach 50 and that there will be choirs in different categories, including children, school, youth, community, chamber and seniors, who will be singing a huge range of styles from pop, jazz, barbershop and gospel to sacred, traditional and indigenous music,” Mr Rosser said.
Auckland has been a UNESCO-listed City of Music since 2017, and its cultural and economic agency Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is supporting the first World Choir Games in this region.
Head of Major Events Chris Simpson said that Auckland is ready to welcome the singers.
The UNESCO City of Music
“As a UNESCO City of Music, Auckland has music in its DNA. With over 220 ethnic groups calling Auckland home, we are uniquely diverse. One of the ways in which we celebrate this is through music. We are thrilled to welcome 10,000 choristers and their families and friends from around the world in 2024, showcasing the hospitality, diversity and culture that Auckland has to offer. It is fantastic to have another global event in the region for Aucklanders and visitors and enjoy,” he said.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Major Events Manager Kylie Hawker-Green said that the World Choir Games provide a unique opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the world while boosting awareness of modern choral performances.
“It is exciting to think that we will welcome up to 10,000 international visitors to Auckland for the event and expect that many will extend their stay and explore all that New Zealand has to offer. ‘NZ Major Events’ are proud to support the World Choir Games and I encourage locals to take up the opportunity to volunteer and get involved, showing visiting choral groups our renowned Kiwi hospitality,” Ms Hawker-Green said.
A Call for Volunteers
The World Choir Games 2024 will need 400 volunteers including people speaking the languages of the visiting choirs.
Volunteers will play a pivotal role in ensuring each competition category, concert and ceremony runs smoothly, with jobs ranging from meeting and greeting choirs to carrying the flags at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and ensuring the smooth running of backstage areas.
Some of them will work closely with the choirs, supporting them throughout their stay.
Mr Rosser said, “We need help to welcome and support the international choral world in a true spirit of hospitality. As we have seen with other major events, Aucklanders are incredibly hospitable and wonderful volunteers. Major events bring cities to life and the Games will be no different. Our guests come from a wide range of countries, and their varied schedules will include everything from the huge ceremonies at Spark Arena to their competition performances in the city’s main acoustic venues and their friendship concerts all around Auckland. We need a range of volunteers, including those who speak foreign languages, have specialist skills and those who simply want to contribute to what will be the largest single choral event ever to take place in New Zealand.”
The event will be attended by music lovers from New Zealand as well as overseas, and Auckland will surely impress all international visitors with its support and enthusiasm.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
