Kyoto Festival Choir

'In Friendship' Concert.

Don't miss this the only NZ concert by the Kyoto Festival Choir. They will be joined by the Nelson Festival Choir, a combined local choir, for an a cappela concert with a difference - celebrating friendship.

Kyoto Festival Choir is made up mainly of members of 'Ensemble Academy Kyoto' and also from three other groups - led by conductor, Hiroshi Kuwayama.

'Ensemble Academy Kyoto' pursues high-quality music with pure and heart-warming harmony, working on a wide range of genres from renaissance to modern contemporary works. They actively exchange with overseas choirs, composers and conductors - including a joint concert in Kyoto in 2016 with Nelson Festival Choir from New Zealand. Two years later they are coming to New Zealand - for 1 concert only, with their friends - here in Nelson.

Hiroshi Kuwayama established the "Kyoto Academy Choir" in 1971. He has won several Gold Awards at the All Japan Choral Competition, and many Gold Awards at the Takarazuka international chamber chorus contest.

He participated in the first World Symposium on Choral Music in Vienna as a representative of Japan. In 2013, he received the Kyoto Choral Association's Distinguished Service Award, and is currently active as a choral conductor and guest conductor including judging at various competitions.

The local Nelson Festival Choir is a combination of Chroma Chamber Choir members, Nelson Male Voice Choir members & others who sang in Japan in 2016. They will be conducted by John Rimmer.

In the spirit of friendship and joining people and cultures through music, the audience are invited to stay and mingle with both choirs after the concert.