‘Simon O’Neill is the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade’
The Telegraph
Auckland Choral is thrilled to welcome Simon O’Neill to perform alongside an outstanding line up of soloists. Fellow New Zealander Martin Snell, along with soprano Hyeseoung Kwon and mezzo-soprano Jacqueline Dark, will join Simon and the superb Auckland Philharmonia for our Gala concert of 2015.
Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis was composed from the heart. Bold, passionate and challenging, Beethoven took inspiration from Handel’s Messiah to produce one of the greatest choral masterpieces of all time.
Hyeseoung Kwon, Soprano
Jacqueline Dark, Mezzo-Soprano
Simon O’Neill, Tenor
Martin Snell, Bass
Auckland Choral
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Uwe Grodd, Conductor
Saturday 31 October 7.30pm
Auckland Town Hall
I joined late last year in the Soprano 1 section, and am currently Auckland Choral’s youngest member, at 14 years old. Born and raised in Auckland, I have worked with professional music companies such as New Zealand Opera, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Opera Factory, and others. Auckland Choral rehearsals are generally the highlight of my week. In 2015 I gained first place in Opera Factory’s Idol competition. This year in the Aria international vocal competition, I came 1st in two of the four categories available. Outside of music, I study in year 10 at Kristin School in Albany, and I play flute and piano. 
Jim Allardyce here from Whangarei. Commuting to Auckland for work, down on a Tuesday and back on a Friday, has opened up a new side to my social calendar. Rehearsals at the choir have become my weekly highlight forming a natural part of my week. Joining only this year, I remember going for my first visit to "check it all out" - I sat at the back amazed at the choir sight-reading Mendelssohn in German (as it was their first reading and performance of the piece). Very soon I was in the thick of it - rolling my r's in Mendelssohn's tongue with the other singers in my bass one section. My inaugural concert in the Auckland Town Hall was unforgettable as the choir was stupendous.
Traude has been a choral singer since 1998 and she is the immediate past Chair of Auckland Choral. In this role she has been instrumental in updating the way the organisation operates and she has learnt valuable lessons about running a voluntary, community based organisation - something she feels very passionate about. As a health professional running her own business, she is aware of the many positive effects that choral singing has on one's well-being - physically, mentally and socially. 
