Since its inception in 1946, the Hamilton Civic Choir has enjoyed a reputation as one of New Zealand's finest Choirs.
Being a fully auditioned choir, we are able to perform works outside the scope of many community-based choirs. In addition to the large choral works of the great composers, usually performed with organ or orchestral accompaniment and the best national and international soloists, the choir's repertoire includes chamber music and other shorter and more modern works.
Currently we comprise about 60 singers, some of whom travel from other Waikato towns to sing with us. The choir has a wide and varied repertoire, presenting masterpieces of western musical culture under the direction of both local and international conductors.
Our high standing in the music scene in this country is shown by the fact that we have been chosen several times to sing major choral works with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Our mission is: "To continue to be Hamilton's premiere classical choir, regularly presenting the world's greatest choral music, at the highest possible standard, to the people of the Waikato and beyond for the mutual enjoyment and enrichment of choir and audience."
PROFILES
Rachael Griffiths-Hughes - Musical Director
Rachael has been the Musical Director of the Hamilton Civic Choir since 2000, and has prepared the choir for successful and critically acclaimed performances of many of the great works from the choral repertoire: Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem.
An early music specialist, Rachael holds MMus in harpsichord and organ performance from the University of Auckland, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the State University of New York. With her two early music ensembles, the Auckland-based trio Kowhai Baroque and Waikato Baroque, Rachael gives concerts throughout the North Island, including recent performances at Festivals in Wellington, Rotorua and Taupo, and has performed with the Auckland Philharmonia, Piper's Sonfonia, and the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. Rachael is a busy organist, with recitals every year in Hamilton and other cities and is also a member of the University of Waikato-based group The New Zealand Chamber Soloists.
She is a Lecturer in the Music Department of the University of Waikato, recently ranked the top Music Department in New Zealand universities, and is the Musical Director and Organist at St Peter’s Cathedral as well as being the Musical Director of the Hamilton Civic Choir.
Francis Cowan - Accompanist
Francis studied piano at Victoria University before training as a primary teacher at Wellington Teachers’ College. He became Director of Music at St. Mark’s Church School in Wellington as well as Master of the Choristers for St. Mark’s Parish Church. In 1983 he founded the Capital Boys’ Choir, which toured New South Wales in 1993.
In 1994 he moved to Hamilton to take up the position of Director of Music at Southwell School. In addition to significant development of the Southwell Boys’ Choir and the school’s extensive opera tradition, he has been involved in many aspects of music in Hamilton city through St. Peter’s Cathedral Choir, Cantando Choir, Opera Waikato, Garden Opera Company, and the Hamilton Civic Choir and as accompanist to many singers in recital and competitions.
In addition to being a virtuoso pianist Francis is an accomplished organist, a regular vocal coach at the New Zealand Opera School in Wanganui, and a skilled conductor and designer of stage shows for Southwell Opera. Recent sell-out productions have included Maury Yeston’s Phantom and the Webber/Rice hit show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
