The Choir
The Bay of Islands Singers is a mixed-voice, non-auditioned, community choir of around 60 singers, based in Kerikeri, New Zealand. We give two or three concerts per year with a repertoire that includes the best of sacred and secular choral works (see Past Concerts). While we come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds all share a passion for singing and a commitment to work hard to offer the best possible musical experience to our audiences in the Far North. We usually perform in the Turner Centre Auditorium, a purpose built performing arts centre in Kerikeri.
An invited guest orchestra of professional and amateur players to accompany the choir adds a richness and variety to the musical experience for singers and audience. The choir also owns a Rodgers Inspire 233 organ.
The choir is certainly about singing, vocal improvement and learning choral skills, but that’s not all. What keeps people coming, year in and year out, is the choir’s friendly and supportive community atmosphere where firm friendships are made and a lot of fun is to be had. There are regular social events and fund-raising activities with the opportunity for singers to socialise and work together to promote the choir.
New singers are always welcome and should contact the President if interested, or just come along on a Monday night.
Our Charities Commission Registration Number is CC23401.
Musical Director – John Jackets
John has been involved in music and performance from an early age, first studying the piano followed by the violin and choral singing. He has performed with choirs and instrumental groups in the UK and in various countries around the world. He was Director of the Serunai Singers chamber choir in Brunei Darussalam. John has experience in a wide range of the choral and instrumental repertoire from jazz, light opera, chamber music to large choral works.
His association with the Bay of Islands Singers goes back to the early 1990s and on his return to Kerikeri in 2007 he resumed as a choir member. John was appointed Assistant Director in mid-2008 becoming Director in 2009. Under his direction the choir has performed in Kerikeri, Kaitaia and Whangarei. Concerts include many of the major choral works by Bach, Puccini, Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi and Rutter and of course Handel’s Messiah. Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man has been performed a number of times and on the lighter side, there have been concerts of American music, choral jazz, operetta and the ever popular Last Night of the Proms.
President – Janet Huddleston
Janet has sung in choirs since she was 10 years old and has always loved music. She plays guitar and has also acted in both professional and amateur plays and musicals.
Professionally, she trained as a computer professional and worked in various IT-related roles until 2018.
She has been a member of the Bay of Islands Singers since moving to Paihia in 2018 and has served on the committee since 2019.
The Committee
President - Janet Huddleston
Vice-President - Melean Absolum
Musical Director - John Jackets
Treasurer/Librarian - Marilyn Kennedy
Secretary - Sue Seal
Committee Members
Jane Jackets
Jennie O'Connor
Paul Sutton