Experience the joy of music in Auckland Museum’s optimal choral performance spaces
SUN 8 NOV
Performances every 30 minutes | 10AM–3:30PM
FREE WITH MUSEUM ENTRY
Experience the joy of music in the Museum's optimal choral performance spaces, the stunning Grand Foyer and Te Ao Mārama South Atrium.
The NZCF (Te Kotahitanga Manu Reo o Aotearoa, New Zealand Choral Federation Auckland) SingFest showcases many of Auckland’s leading community choirs, alongside new and developing choirs from across the region. Each choir will present their own unique repertoire in pop-up recitals throughout the day.
NZCF SingFest is a series of regional festivals of collective singing taking place across Aotearoa. In 2026, a SingFest will be held in ten regions, each one run a little differently according to local tradition and the community's needs! Choir Participation is free for NZCF member choirs.
Choirs performing:
The Auckland Mixed Barbershop Chorus is a bright, vibrant new mixed chorus shaking up the barbershop scene in Tamaki Makaurau! Formed in late 2024, AMBC has leapt right into creating beautiful harmonies and lifelong friendships, and took home the Small Chorus Champion trophy on their first year at the national Barbershop Harmony New Zealand convention 2025. With a focus on building community through harmony, AMBC brings passion and a drive for personal excellence into each chord they sing.
Belle Canto Women's Choir is led by music director Clare Martin and is based on the North Shore of Auckland. They enjoy a diversity of music in many vibrant events in programmes of music blending classical with contemporary and interesting arrangements of well-known songs. They have performed with soloists from the Auckland Philharmonia, with tango group Milonga de Cuatro and this year with various folk music artists. This year their main programme is 'Celtic Revelry', a collaboration with the North Shore Male Voice Choir. For SingFest they are presenting the best tunes from that programme including Gaelic dance music, Celtic lullabies and sweetly reminiscent tunes.
Cantemus Community Choir Incorporated is a non-auditioned choir that provides members and friends with opportunities to enjoy choral and other musical activities through public and private performances. We currently have about 65 members who participate during the year, attending weekly practices and rehearsals for public performances. We have a wonderful Musical Director (Stuart Weightman) and an extremely professional piano accompanist (William Green) as well as enjoying the support of an organist (Edmond Wong), depending on musical requirements.
The City of Auckland Singers has been a vibrant part of the Howick and Pakuranga area since 1972. This multi-generational, multi-cultural group has delighted audiences with timeless classics and contemporary favourites - from the Everly Brothers and Elvis to Miley Cyrus and Christina Perri. Costume changes and solo spots enhance their performances. This award-winning choir has participated in six international Festivals and competitions 2009-2026, including Gorizia and Alta Pusteria in Italy, Llangollen in Wales and Sydney, Hobart and Geelong in Australia.
City of Sails Barbershop Chorus has a proud history as New Zealand's first barbershop organisation. For over 47 years, their members have freely given their time to perform for civic, cultural and charitable organisations, private groups, churches, community events, and fundraisers. The chorus educates and inspires to ensure each member's continued musical growth, and works to foster singing in the community.
Coastie Choir is a community-based women’s choir from the Hibiscus Coast. Led by Cathy Betty, the group is made up of local women who simply love getting together to sing. Their repertoire features well-known pop hits and timeless classic songs, arranged to bring out the best in community voices. With a focus on the joy of making music together, Coastie Choir prides itself on a welcoming, and supportive atmosphere, where singers enjoy the music, improve together, and share plenty of laughs along the way. A selection of their members will enjoy performing as part of Auckland's Singfest.
The Music Association of Auckland is a non-profit organisation founded in 2002 aiming to use music as a bridge to enhance and support engagement opportunities for Chinese communities who are looking to participate and engage with music. Since 2002, The Music Association of Auckland have attracted and provided a safe and welcoming home to over 200 members including children/youth, young adults and seniors. MAA members are predominately of Chinese ethnicity and part of the Auckland migrant communities from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Through 24 years of service, The Music Association of Auckland have been supporting, engaging and servicing the local Chinese communities through festivals, events and concerts. The organisation is also extremely proud to engage and collaborate with many other communities which call Tāmaki Makaurau the home through music activities & special projects that share and tell the amazing stories of our cultures and our native homelands.
Sing Creative Choir is a vibrant, welcoming community choir based in Titirangi, West Auckland. Led by singer-songwriter and vocal coach Ra Charmian and producer Hayden Booth, the choir brings together more than 30 adults of all experience levels. With a focus on modern pop songs, contemporary arrangements and rich harmonies, Sing Creative offers a fresh and fun take on the traditional choir experience. At its heart, the choir is about confidence, connection and belonging. Whether someone is an experienced singer or finding their voice for the first time, they are welcomed into a supportive space where friendships grow, creativity is encouraged and everyone gets to experience the magic of making music together. You can spot Sing Creative Choir performing at local Titirangi events, including the Titirangi Village Market and Twilight Market, as well as at Sing Creative concerts. The choir is now getting out into the community and performing more than ever!
Sounds of the Shore is a vibrant women’s barbershop chorus based on Auckland’s North Shore. We sing an eclectic repertoire in four-part harmony, blending contemporary favourites, pop classics, ballads, musical theatre, and the occasional surprise — all delivered in the rich and ringing style of barbershop harmony. Our chorus brings together women of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experiences, united by a love of singing, friendship, and performance. Whether performing on stage, entertaining local communities, or competing in barbershop events, we aim to create music that is engaging, heartfelt, and fun. Known for our warm, supportive culture and energetic performances, Sounds of the Shore is passionate about musical growth, connection, and sharing the joy of a cappella singing with audiences across Auckland and beyond.
Established in 2001 by its Artistic Director and Conductor, Terence Maskell, The Graduate Choir New Zealand is one of the preeminent mixed-voice choirs in New Zealand, earning high acclaim both here and abroad for its unique warmth of sound and breadth of repertoire. The singers represent a wide range of the cultural and ethnic mix that makes Auckland special. The choir has delighted and moved audiences throughout New Zealand and internationally, the British press (2005) describing The Graduate Choir NZ as “a wake-up call for the choral world” in the UK. More recently, the distinguished British conductor, Stephen Layton, lavished praise upon the choir when he conducted it with the Auckland Philharmonia (2024). The choir recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a lavish and exciting concert in Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Castorways is a 12-voice vocal ensemble that sings a wide range of music from Bach to Bowie, with a particular emphasis on jazz, spirituals, and arrangements of contemporary pieces. We perform twice a year, with the proceeds of each concert being donated to a charity. For this museum performance, we will sing pieces by Brahms, Coldplay, David Hamilton, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin!
SingFest Schedule
SingFest is a series of regional festivals of collective singing taking place across Aotearoa. In 2026, a SingFest will be held in ten regions, each one run a little differently according to local tradition and the community's needs. Download the schedule for Auckland SingFest below.