1998 NZ Festival of Male Voice Choirs

Index:

• Festival Introduction

• Guest Conductor

• Guest Artists

• Participating Choirs

• Festival Information

• Next Festival (2004)

• Links

The 1998 New Zealand Male Voice Choir Festival was hosted by the Wellington Male Voice Choir in Wellington, 30 October - 1 November.

There were two public concerts as part of the Festival. The Guest Conductor (Eirian Owen) was invited to conduct the mass choir concert of some 300 voices starting 8pm on 31 October, while at 2pm there was a concert where each of the eight participating choirs present their own selections of music, under their regular conductor (a Festival of Choirs).

Of special mention is the piece "Here Be Dragons" that had its World Premiere at this Festival. The original music was written for this occasion by Professor Colin Gibson, Professor of English at the University of Dunedin. Denis Guyan, Conductor of the Garden City Male Voice Choir, of Christchurch, provided the male voice arrangement. We acknowledge WestpacTrust's support through a grant to fund this commission.

1998 Festival Committee

The 1998 Festival committee comprised of Rob Thomson (Convenor), Ken Boyden MBE, Beverley Boys, Kevin Buck, Graeme Halliwell, Tom Humphries, Brian Mexted, Ewan Stewart, Allan Todd, and David Watt JP. Peter Dallas was the concert compere.

Eirian Owen was born in Llanuwchllyn, on the shores of Bala Lake in North Wales. She is an Honours graduate of the University of Wales, and also holds an ARCM Diploma in Accompaniment, together with a post-graduate Diploma in Advanced Musical Performance awarded by the University of Manchester. Eirian spent several years as a teacher before joining the staff of Chethams School of Music in Manchester as staff accompanist and piano tutor. She combines this position with a freelance career, and runs a busy singing coach practice at her home in Dolgellau.

Our guest conductor has served as official accompanist at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and at the National Eisteddfod of Wales for many years. She has performed with most of the younger generation of Welsh singers, who are rapidly making a name for themselves in the world of international opera. Eirian is a member of the National Eisteddfod's Music Panel, and in 1997 was Music Director of the 250 strong National Eisteddfod Choir which performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and with the Camerata Orchestra of Manchester. During 1999 she made her debut as a choral adjudicator at the National Eisteddfod.

Eirian has been Music Director of the "Cór Godre'r Aran" (Aran Mountain Choir), Llanuwchllyn, Wales, since 1975, which has toured in Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A, Canada, Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore. Between 1989 and 1994 she has led the choir to first prize on four occasions at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Under her leadership, "Cór Godre'r Aran" has also won first prize, in 1996 and again in 2000, in the male choirs competition at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod against opposition from three continents.

This is Eirian Owen's third visit to Wellington - she directed the "Cór Godre'r Aran" on its very successful visits in 1996 and 1986.