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We are
People singing together |
Who we are
Wellington Community Choir aims to provide all people, whatever their background or ability, with an opportunity to sing together.
Over 4,500 people have sung with Wellington Community Choir since it started in 2005. Usually there are around 60-70 of us singing together each week.
We believe that singing together joyfully is natural and open to all, regardless of musical ability or previous experience.
For thousands of years all over the world, people have sung to express joy, celebration, or grief, or to accompany work or devotion, or to aid healing. Song has always been a part of life and a way of binding communities together.
Music making can be an enormously powerful experience, as can be seen in the many wonderful musical traditions around the world. By sharing the music of different cultures at rehearsals and in performance, Wellington Community Choir celebrates diversity and promotes singing as a liberating and creative experience.
We are proud to be a community choir that welcomes anyone at any stage throughout the year. There is no requirement to read music, we do not hold auditions and there are no formal joining procedures. We run the Choir ourselves on a not-for-profit basis.
We do not sing competitively, but for the joy of singing.
Over 4,500 people have sung with Wellington Community Choir since it started in 2005. Usually there are around 60-70 of us singing together each week.
We believe that singing together joyfully is natural and open to all, regardless of musical ability or previous experience.
For thousands of years all over the world, people have sung to express joy, celebration, or grief, or to accompany work or devotion, or to aid healing. Song has always been a part of life and a way of binding communities together.
Music making can be an enormously powerful experience, as can be seen in the many wonderful musical traditions around the world. By sharing the music of different cultures at rehearsals and in performance, Wellington Community Choir celebrates diversity and promotes singing as a liberating and creative experience.
We are proud to be a community choir that welcomes anyone at any stage throughout the year. There is no requirement to read music, we do not hold auditions and there are no formal joining procedures. We run the Choir ourselves on a not-for-profit basis.
We do not sing competitively, but for the joy of singing.
WHAT WE DO
We sing music from and are inspired by different choral traditions from the world's cultures, including our own in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Wellington Community Choir is grouped into four main sections: soprano (high female), alto (mid female), tenor (low female, high male) and bass (low male). Please feel free to experiment and find for yourself which group best suits your voice. You are allowed to move!
We give performances at various community venues and events in Wellington and we also put on evening concerts. Here’s a range of our past performances:
We are a friendly and supportive community and have a lot of fun including trips to different destinations where we team up with other community choirs to hold concerts and workshops.
Wellington Community Choir is grouped into four main sections: soprano (high female), alto (mid female), tenor (low female, high male) and bass (low male). Please feel free to experiment and find for yourself which group best suits your voice. You are allowed to move!
We give performances at various community venues and events in Wellington and we also put on evening concerts. Here’s a range of our past performances:
- "How can I keep from singing", a collaborative concert with singers from the Rātana choir
- "Guiding light", songs about journeys, hope and love at St Peter's on Willis St July 2024
- Daytime music International Peace Day, we were part of a 24-hour concert in which various choirs from around the world every hour in September 2023
- "Better Day" Concert with guest choir Wellington Regional Māori Choir at Wesley Methodist Church in June 2023
- "Love Call me Home" Heartwarming songs from around the world with guest performers Kaitaia Community Voices at Wesley Methodist Church in July 2022
- "Are we nearly there?" Songs from around the world at Wesley Methodist Church in July 2021
- "Rise Above" Community Collaboration concert in the time of COVID-18 St John's in the City Presbyterian Church 2020
- "Welcome Home" NZ Music Concert Salvation Army Citadel August 2019
- "Don't Stop Me Now" Queen Concert Salvation Army Citadel April 2019
- Opening of the New Zealand Festival of the Arts 2018 and 2016
- Nelson Mandela 100th Anniversary 2018, Te Wharewaka, 2018
- “Ode to the Moon” Concert with Aroha Quartet – Festive songs and tunes from China and Aotearoa, Te Papa, 2018
- “Kiwi As” Concert Salvation Army Citadel 2017
- “Inspired by Africa” Concert, St Johns, 2017
- Cupa Dupa street performances
- “Singing People Together” 10th Anniversary Concert, Michael Fowler Centre 2015
- African Mass and Bob Marley Songs, St Johns, 2013
We are a friendly and supportive community and have a lot of fun including trips to different destinations where we team up with other community choirs to hold concerts and workshops.
Our artistic directors
Artistic Director - Lala Simpson
Message from one of our singers
"Thank you for being such an inspiring song leader. Singing in the choir brings me pure joy."
Madagascar-born Lala Simpson is a Wellington-based composer, music educator, and song leader known for her engaging and joyful approach to music-making, which resonates with people of all ages. Her innate sense of rhythm, natural singing voice, and deep passion for empowering communities through song have made her a beloved figure in the local music scene.
Growing up surrounded by the rich musical traditions of Madagascar, France, Africa, and the Indian Ocean, Lala has always believed in the transformative power of singing to bring joy, foster connection, and help us navigate the world. She has been leading community singing since her teenage years, inspiring others to find their voices and embrace the joy of music.
Lala brings a wonderful sense of humor, a touch of Malagasy culture, and a compassionate, patient approach to her teaching, creating a welcoming space where everyone can express themselves through song.
With over 15 years of experience, Lala has worked with singers of all ages, from preschoolers to adults, leading choirs, corporate gatherings, and community groups. She has coached individuals to overcome their nerves and discover the joy of singing in community settings. As the founder of Manawa Ora Voices and Kotaba Voices as well as director of Ooh Lala Music, she has dedicated herself to creating spaces where music brings people together.
Currently, Lala serves as the artistic director of Kotaba Voices. She also performs French classics, including the songs of Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, with her three-piece band. As well as acting as a guest director for choirs across the Wellington region, she leads workshops and singing retreats both nationally and internationally, teaching traditional and original Malagasy songs as well as global community music. Lala is also a regular guest tutor for Village Harmony in the U.S. and serves as lead tutor for Village Harmony Singing Camps in Madagascar and New Zealand.
Message from one of our singers
"Thank you for being such an inspiring song leader. Singing in the choir brings me pure joy."
Madagascar-born Lala Simpson is a Wellington-based composer, music educator, and song leader known for her engaging and joyful approach to music-making, which resonates with people of all ages. Her innate sense of rhythm, natural singing voice, and deep passion for empowering communities through song have made her a beloved figure in the local music scene.
Growing up surrounded by the rich musical traditions of Madagascar, France, Africa, and the Indian Ocean, Lala has always believed in the transformative power of singing to bring joy, foster connection, and help us navigate the world. She has been leading community singing since her teenage years, inspiring others to find their voices and embrace the joy of music.
Lala brings a wonderful sense of humor, a touch of Malagasy culture, and a compassionate, patient approach to her teaching, creating a welcoming space where everyone can express themselves through song.
With over 15 years of experience, Lala has worked with singers of all ages, from preschoolers to adults, leading choirs, corporate gatherings, and community groups. She has coached individuals to overcome their nerves and discover the joy of singing in community settings. As the founder of Manawa Ora Voices and Kotaba Voices as well as director of Ooh Lala Music, she has dedicated herself to creating spaces where music brings people together.
Currently, Lala serves as the artistic director of Kotaba Voices. She also performs French classics, including the songs of Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, with her three-piece band. As well as acting as a guest director for choirs across the Wellington region, she leads workshops and singing retreats both nationally and internationally, teaching traditional and original Malagasy songs as well as global community music. Lala is also a regular guest tutor for Village Harmony in the U.S. and serves as lead tutor for Village Harmony Singing Camps in Madagascar and New Zealand.
Piano Accompanist - Andrea Robinson
BMus (Comp), LTCL (Flute), MMusTher (Victoria)
Growing up in a family where both parents played piano, Andrea developed a huge passion for music. She sang in school choirs and orchestras and later played piano, flute and sang backing vocals in a variety of cover bands, soul and blues bands.
She has over forty years' experience as a piano and flute teacher and more recently been working as a Registered Music Therapist, specialising in working with people with neurological conditions. Andrea’s portfolio also includes itinerant teaching, running ukulele groups and small orchestras in both primary and secondary schools in Wellington. Currently she leads two community choirs in the Wellington region.
As well as working as a therapist and teacher, Andrea arranges music and plays piano in ‘Duke Wellington’, an 8 piece jazz band and occasionally plays in the Wellington City Big Band.
BMus (Comp), LTCL (Flute), MMusTher (Victoria)
Growing up in a family where both parents played piano, Andrea developed a huge passion for music. She sang in school choirs and orchestras and later played piano, flute and sang backing vocals in a variety of cover bands, soul and blues bands.
She has over forty years' experience as a piano and flute teacher and more recently been working as a Registered Music Therapist, specialising in working with people with neurological conditions. Andrea’s portfolio also includes itinerant teaching, running ukulele groups and small orchestras in both primary and secondary schools in Wellington. Currently she leads two community choirs in the Wellington region.
As well as working as a therapist and teacher, Andrea arranges music and plays piano in ‘Duke Wellington’, an 8 piece jazz band and occasionally plays in the Wellington City Big Band.