New Zealand Premiere
Saturday April 24th 2021, 2:30pm, 7:30pm
The Piano Centre for the Performing Arts, 156 Armagh Street
After two Covid postponements, we are thrilled to announce the New Zealand premiere performance dates for Considering Matthew Shepard. This 110 minute work blurs the lines between theatre, oratorio, concert, and musical theatre. It also blurs the lines between music genres by including Gregorian chant, modern choral, and Gospel music alongside blues and country western. But the story brings into focus the life and loss of Matthew Shepard 22 years ago in Wyoming and the lessons it has brought with it. Inspiring both the play and the movie The Laramie Project, this is a new work for our time and place. It was part of a national tour by renowned vocal ensemble Conspirare in the US in 2019 to rave reviews. This is a don’t miss opportunity to experience this magnificent work and its message of humanity.
Auditions!
Come sing with us. If you are a seasoned, passionate singer and performer committed to excellence we want to hear you. We’ll be holding auditions throughout the year for upcoming projects. Our next two dates are Sundays January 24 and 31. You can book a spot through this link: https://auditions3-2.youcanbook.me/
ATLAS VOICES
Atlas Voices began in 2011 as a collection of Christchurch’s best vocal talent dedicated to presenting exciting vocal music performances to audiences in Canterbury. The ensemble continues to sell-out their shows and receives regular standing ovations while they continue to push the boundaries and expectations of choral and vocal music Our dedication to cutting-edge works and productions continues in 2021 with Considering Matthew Shepard in April. We also continue our successful collaboration with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as the core contracted choir for the amazing Symphonic Chorus.
Ravil Atlas
The founder and artistic Director of Atlas Voices is Ravil Atlas. He is currently the chorus master for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Opera Chorus in Christchurch.
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AMAHL (Dress Rehearsal – photos by Clinton Lloyd, with thanks to The Piano)
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New Zealand dramatic soprano Amanda Atlas embarked on her international career in 1999, spending ten years singing for various opera companies and orchestras in the US and Europe. Role highlights include Verdi’s Amelia, Alice Ford
William O’Brien is a New Zealand Bass who began private vocal tuition with voice teacher Margot Button in 2011. Graduating from the University of Canterbury in 2015 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Econ) William has continued his private voice tuition following his undergraduate studies and is also an alumnus of both the New Zealand Singing School (2015) and New Zealand Opera School (2018).
Thomas has been involved in productions and musical performance from a young age.
Having been involved in plenty of singing while growing up in Christchurch, Alex was interested in becoming a jazz crooner and took the logical step of studying for a commerce degree. While at university he discovered that the established genre for singing accountants was opera, and thus joined Southern Opera’s chorus for Il Trovatore in 2008. From there he was hooked and has sung with opera choruses for the last 10 years (Southern Opera, and then New Zealand Opera), along with singing a variety of solo and small group work in local concerts and with his opera entertainment group, The Operatives. Alex gained his LTCL in singing in 2014, and also undertook a period of private opera studies in Adelaide with his partner Katherine in 2015, before settling back in Christchurch and starting a family.
Grant is 13 and is living with his family in Christchurch during 2018 while his father is on sabbatical here from the US. He started his singing career with an Anglican boy’s choir several years ago. He has also sung with choirs at his schools, both in the US and in Aurora Voices and Malestrom at Burnside High School here in Christchurch. He has played piano, flute, recorder, steel drums, drums and has recently started the trombone.