Wish you were here!
Today we were going to welcome the choral world to Auckland. It's been hard coming to terms with the fact that WSCM2020 will now not happen, but we haven’t given up on our dream to host the choral world here in Aotearoa
WSCM 2020 became one of the major victims of the pandemic in the choral world. We would like to use this opportunity to send our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the excellent Organizing Team and we would like to invite the choral community to think of them in this emotional moment!
Read the full official message of the NZ Team below:
Wish you were here!
Today we were going to welcome the choral world to Auckland. This afternoon you would have picked up your bag and lanyard at registration, learnt how to use the conference app and oriented yourself in the main Symposium hub. You might also have strolled around the city and the harbour – and yes, it’s a mild, sunny day! Tonight you would have been treated to a spectacular, theatrical opening concert that was to showcase Aotearoa New Zealand in song.
It's been hard coming to terms with the fact that WSCM2020 will now not happen. From your messages it’s clear that many of you – performers, presenters and delegates alike – have felt the same, and we remain hugely disappointed that we couldn’t put on the show we’d planned.
But that disappointment pales into insignificance against what most singers and would-be audience members are still experiencing as the pandemic continues to rage. We’ve stayed in touch with old and new friends from all over the globe and feel desperately sad for choirs who are still months away from being able to meet again in person. The clever, creative, collaborative solutions people have come up with to make choral connections possible are truly astounding, but of course there’s no real substitute for singing together in the same room.
While NZ is now in the hugely fortunate position of being able to hold rehearsals and concerts again, we certainly don’t take it for granted and realise it is only made possible by keeping our borders closed – not something Kiwis enjoy. Our domestic ‘reopening’ has coincided with the country’s celebration of
Matariki, the reappearance of the star cluster of that name that heralds the beginning of the Māori New Year and harvest festival. It’s a time to rejoice, reflect and contemplate our dreams and desires for the year ahead. WSCM2020 was to feature a groundbreaking new multi-choir-and-composer choral work for Matariki. We still intend to perform the work this time next year, to celebrate with tangata whenua (the people of the land), to remember our Symposium and to look toward the future.
We haven’t given up on our dream to host the choral world here in Aotearoa. One day, not too far away, we’d love you to accept our invitation again!
Ngā mihi maioha
WSCM2020 Team
