Waimataitai School Choir to Premiere Original Song by Charlotte Talbot

The Waimataitai School Choir will showcase a unique performance on November 14, 2023, featuring thirteen songs, including the original composition “Up and Down Aotearoa New Zealand” by Charlotte Talbot. This marks the first public performance of her music by someone other than Talbot, a South Canterbury-based preschool music and movement teacher known for her work under the name Cee Bee Teatime.

In a statement, Talbot described how the song evolved from a simple parachute activity used in her preschool sessions into a beloved piece for New Zealand primary school students. “The song began life as an ‘up and down’ parachute song for my Cee Bee Teatime preschool music and movement sessions,” she explained. “It has grown into a sort of national anthem for New Zealand primary school students to sing, exploring the concepts of up and down in both spatial and geographical senses, with a chorus about ‘my Hokey Pokey ice cream’.”

The choir, directed by Tamara Hogg, has been diligently preparing for this concert throughout the year. “They perform everything off by heart,” Hogg noted, highlighting the choir’s commitment to excellence. The concert will take place at the Life Church in Timaru and will include full choir numbers featuring harmonies and layering, as well as solo performances from talented choir members.

Hogg has led the Waimataitai Choir for three years and views her collaboration with Talbot as a significant achievement. She likened Talbot’s influence in the community to that of Suzie Cato, a well-known figure in children’s entertainment in New Zealand. The choir, consisting of 37 members from year 4 to year 8, meets for an hour and a half each week and holds auditions annually.

Earlier this year, the Waimataitai School Choir served as the lead choir for the Release the Music Charitable Trust Song Festival. Hogg expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming concert, stating that the students have enjoyed learning Talbot’s composition, which incorporates their suggestions for actions to help convey the song’s narrative.

The performance is set to begin at 12:15 PM, and entry will require a koha donation, with proceeds going towards St Mary’s. This concert represents not only a celebration of music but also a significant moment for the choir as they embrace the opportunity to share a piece of original work with their community.