Wairarapa Singers is an incorporated charitable society which was established in 1994. We are one of the finest choirs in the region and currently we have over 70 members. Our main concerts typically attract an audience of from 200 to 400 people. We aim to make the best music we possibly can joining with local musicians and singers to make memorable events.
Our two goals are to share our love of singing while having fun and enjoying music old and new.
Rehearsals are weekly and are held in the Rosewood Funeral Home, Queen Street, Masterton from 6.45 pm until 9.00 pm, on Wednesdays. We perform three main concerts a year, usually held in the autumn and spring, and possibly a concert at the end of the year.
Some of our recent concerts have been: Haydn’s Creation, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Opera Delights, a joint concert with the National Male Choir of NZ, and a joint concert with Martinborough Choir.
If you are interested in joining us click here. Follow us on Facebook.
Update October 2023: Our new Music Director for 2024 and beyond is Mark Stamper.
Mark L. Stamper, a native of South Carolina, began his piano study at the age of three and eventually expanded his musical interests to include choral music. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Winthrop University in 1986 where he studied with Dr. Eugene Barban. In 1989, Mr. Stamper was awarded a Master of Music degree with a concentration in Choral Conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where he was the Assistant Conductor of the Oratorio Chorus.
He has been awarded the Silver Medal at the Concours International de la Musique and the Best Performance of a Modern Work during the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Boston. Mr. Stamper made his operatic conducting debut with Opera in the Heights, when he was granted the honor of being the first Conductor Apprentice to conduct an opera, Cavalleria Rusticana, with orchestra. He worked under the direction of Maestro William Weibel, a former conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Mr. Stamper also conducted Cosi fan Tutte with the South Florida Opera Company and The Gondoliers with Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. In 2006-2007, he was the Principal Accompanist for La Bohème and Madame Butterfly with the Fort Worth Opera. Then in 2008, Mr. Stamper was the Chorus Master for Lucia di Lammermoor and Of Mice and Men, where his chorus received great reviews from the critics. Among some of the Broadway productions Mr. Stamper has served as Musical Director and Accompanist are The Music Man, Bye, Bye Birdie, The Fantastiks, The Sound of Music, Into the Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, The King and I, Chess, Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Rent, Chicago, She Loves Me, 42nd Street, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Footloose, Oklahoma!, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 2019, Mark made his acting debut as Jerry in The Full Monty at Wellington’s Gryphon Theatre. With conducting experience widespread among many genres of music, Mr. Stamper's depth includes ballet, choral, opera, orchestral, and musicals. His love for music is exemplified through his working in various performance mediums, as well as various genres. His choirs have consistently received accolades from critics and judges, attained superior ratings at festivals , and have been featured as an honor choir at A merican C horal D irectors A ssociation conventions and at The Big Sing in New Zealand and in various international competitions. In the United States, he has held appointments as Associate Artistic Director with the Texas Boys Choir, Artistic Director of The Women's Chorus of Dallas, Artistic Director of The Singing Girls of Texas, and Principal Accompanist of the Turtle Creek Chorale. His most recent American posts include being the Music Director for the Theater program at Metropolitan State University and Artistic Director of the Northland Chorale and Colorado Repertory Singers. Mark moved to Wellington, New Zealand in 2015 and is now a permanent resident of New Zealand. During the past 8 years, he has worked with various choirs from different age groups and experience. In New Zealand, he is the Founding Artistic Director of Inspirare, conducts three choirs at Queen Margaret College (Voces Luce (award-winning choir), Jubilate, and Celesta) and the Wellington Male Voice Choir. Mark regularly works with other choirs as a guest clinician, as well as mentoring young conductors. |
This website was updated on: 10 November 2023