The historic Town Hall concert hall in downtown Auckland was filled to capacity in anticipation of the annual Christmas concert last Friday, 7 December.
The concert did not disappoint as the Auckland Symphony Orchestra joined with a regional choir from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to perform a full program of Christmas favourites and original pieces.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Conductor Peter Thomas led a very engaging evening, inviting the audience to sing along to such Christmas favourites as “We Wish you a Merry Christmas,” “Silent Night”, and “Away in a Manger."
Guest singers, including a number by four young children, were just some of the many highlights.
The church choir, led by Ivoga Green and accompanied by pianist Niu Sydall, performed several numbers including an original piece composed by Green and Sydall titled “Come and Seek Him.”
They also performed “New Kingdom” by Daniel Nathan, who also sang a solo during that number.
“A King is Born,” a number by American composer Lex de Azevedo, was also performed with a solo by Susie Nonoa.
Conductor Ivoga Green, who has been with the choir for 10 years, said, “ I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to bring the choir together and to have them work together developing their talents, and developing my own.”
Pianist Niu Sydall has been with the choir for 20 years. She noted: “This is one of the very few concerts left that allows us to perform the traditional Christmas carols about the Saviour.”
"The true meaning of Christmas," she said, "is celebrating the Saviour’s birth.”
The choir's performance was its members' contribution to the Church's annual Light the World celebration, which focuses on the birth and life of Christ, and which encourages acts of kindness and service.