City Of Sails Chorus
Encyclopedia
The Auckland City of Sails Chorus is one of New Zealand
's top male choruses singing mainly barbershop music
. It is based in Auckland
and has been active since the inception of NZABS (New Zealand Association Of Barbershop Singers) in 1979. NZABS is an affiliate of the governing Barbershop Harmony Society
.
The chorus was originally called the MOTAT chorus, after the Museum of Transport and Technology located in Western Springs of Auckland City.
The City of Sails Chorus's musical director is Ben Trollip. Over the years, the chorus has had the directorial skills of Gary Taylor, Phil Skaggs and Jill Rodgers. The latter took them to the 2005 International convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, and continues to coach the group. The chorus was the first chorus from New Zealand ever to compete at the Men's international barbershop competitions.
In 2006, the chorus hosted the NZABS national convention.
The quartet gave a concert, along with local established quartet "The Bridge City Barbers", in the Museum's Aviation Theatre. At the end of the concert the women and kids from the audience left but the men remained. The quartet then taught the guys a few traditional barbershop songs in four part harmony. The women and kids returned later to be entertained by their menfolk.
At the conclusion,there was an announcement of the formation of the MOTAT Barbershop Chorus, ANZAC Day 1979. Of the 40 or so men there, about 35 turned up on the initial rehearsal night. Wayne Senior, TVNZ Music Personality, vocal and band arranger was appointed as the initial Musical Director.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's top male choruses singing mainly barbershop music
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
. It is based in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and has been active since the inception of NZABS (New Zealand Association Of Barbershop Singers) in 1979. NZABS is an affiliate of the governing Barbershop Harmony Society
Barbershop Harmony Society
The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
.
The chorus was originally called the MOTAT chorus, after the Museum of Transport and Technology located in Western Springs of Auckland City.
The City of Sails Chorus's musical director is Ben Trollip. Over the years, the chorus has had the directorial skills of Gary Taylor, Phil Skaggs and Jill Rodgers. The latter took them to the 2005 International convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, and continues to coach the group. The chorus was the first chorus from New Zealand ever to compete at the Men's international barbershop competitions.
In 2006, the chorus hosted the NZABS national convention.
History
An Invitation from Ron Richardson, then CEO of the Museum Of Transport And Technology and Barbershop enthusiast, to an Hawaiian Quartet from the Aloha Chapter of the then SPEBSQSA Inc. now Barbershop Harmony Society, called "The Merry Mac's" resulted in an invitation for local men to SING.The quartet gave a concert, along with local established quartet "The Bridge City Barbers", in the Museum's Aviation Theatre. At the end of the concert the women and kids from the audience left but the men remained. The quartet then taught the guys a few traditional barbershop songs in four part harmony. The women and kids returned later to be entertained by their menfolk.
At the conclusion,there was an announcement of the formation of the MOTAT Barbershop Chorus, ANZAC Day 1979. Of the 40 or so men there, about 35 turned up on the initial rehearsal night. Wayne Senior, TVNZ Music Personality, vocal and band arranger was appointed as the initial Musical Director.