21 May 2015
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Regional Secondary Schools’ Choral Festival ‘The Big Sing’,
Michael Fowler Centre, 10.30am - 1.30pm, 2.00pm-4.30pm and Gala Concert 7.00pm - 9.30pm, 4 June 2015
Marsden’s Senior Chamber Choir, Altissime, and our student led Ad Summa Chorale, run by Olivia Singleton
and Gabrielle Palado, will be participating in this year’s annual regional choral festival, ‘The Big Sing’, on
Thursday 4 June 2015. Twenty-five secondary schools are entering thirty-seven choirs. Our choirs are scheduled
to sing during the morning of Thursday 4 June and at the Gala Concert on the same evening.
Tickets are free to the public for the three daytime sessions at 10.30am - 1.30pm, 2.00pm-4.30pm on
Wednesday 3 June and Thursday 4 June. The Gala Concerts, featuring the choirs from that day only, start at
7.00pm on both Wednesday 3 June and Thursday 4 June 2015. Tickets for the Gala Concerts, at approx. $15.00
and $8.00, are available from Ticketek and we advise early purchase as these events are always sold out.
We are hoping that members of Altissime will be wearing the new choir uniform with flat black pumps and
black stockings. All other students should wear full winter uniform comprising of skirts, winter blouse, black
tights, tie and blazer at both events. We need everyone to be on time and correctly dressed.
For the morning performance on 4 June, all members of both choirs will have a rehearsal at Marsden from
8.25am. We will then depart from the Vera Street entrance at 9.30am. Transport to the Michael Fowler Centre
will be via coaches and shuttle buses. After Ad Summa’s performance in the first session of that day, the girls
who are only in that choir will return to school by bus for lunch and afternoon lessons. Altissime will remain for
the rest of the afternoon at the Michael Fowler Centre to hear the other choirs or may return to school if they
have an assessment, and girls will be dismissed from the venue to make their own way home. The staff
accompanying the trip will be me, Ms Maaike Christie-Beekman, Mrs Rosalba Finnerty and Mrs Karen Black.
For the Gala Concert on the evening of Thursday 4 June, choir members should meet at the Michael Fowler
Centre and be seated by 6.30pm. The concert begins at 7.00pm and is expected to finish about 9.30pm.
Students will need to make their own way to and from the venue.
As your daughter has returned the generic permission slip, you do not need give consent for this school event.
However, please make arrangements for her transport to and from the venue on the night.
The concerts are always very impressive and your support at the afternoon or the Gala performance is
welcomed.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Marian Campbell
Director of Music
Marsden Ave, Private Bag, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone +64 4 476 8707 Facsimile +64 4 939 8934
Website www.marsden.school.nz