Mendelssohn’s Elijah has been described as ‘more of an opera than an oratorio’. Intensely theatrical, it calls for a substantial orchestra, a large line-up of soloists, and a chorus that has both power and sensitivity.
The work was a smash hit at its first performance in 1846 before two thousand people in Birmingham’s Town Hall — a building whose interior is very similar in size and layout to the Auckland Town Hall.
Be prepared for the widest range of musical emotions, from the thrilling, ceremonial battle of “Baal We Cry to Thee” to the soft, three-part gem of “Lift thine Eyes”. Elijah is nothing less than the lifetime journey of a soul.
Jennifer Barrington Soprano
Helen Medlyn Mezzo
Martin Buckigham Tenor
Martin Snell Bass
Auckland Choral
Pipers Sinfonia
Uwe Grodd Conductor
Saturday 2 September 7.30pm
Auckland Town Hall
Kimberley joined the choir as a Soprano in January 2015 for Handel's Israel in Egypt. It was a daunting, split choir piece with a short rehearsal period but this didn't scare her away! Kimberley has been singing since before she could talk, her first words were sung, being Old MacDonald's E-I-E-I-O. Kimberley joined the Auckland Girls Choir as a foundation member in 1998 under Leonie Lawson and found she enjoyed Choral Music but left in 2000 as a 13 year old and found enjoyment throughout her high-school years in musical stage performances and often performed singing solos at school assemblies and talent contests. 
I have always enjoyed singing, one of my ealiest memories is rehearsing a small item “me and my teddy bear” as a preschooler. Music is fundemental to who I am and have been fortunate to recieve encouragment and opportunities to improve my ability and to perform. I have performed with: Auckland Boys Choir, NZ Opera (Turandot), Auckland University Singers, Rennaisance singers (Palmerston North) and Auckland Choral since 2012. I attained Grade 8 (highest level) singing with the Royal School of Music under the tutalage of Evelyn Hatfield. I’ve also been onstage in several gang shows with Scouts NZ and school shows at Avondale College.
I am originally from the UK where I studied music. After a few years in London working in Orchestral Management the call of the sea became strong and I spent the next few years yachting. During my time in the Pacific I ended up sailing to New Zealand where I decided to step ashore and have called New Zealand home for just over 9 years. 
