Composer Jessie Leov, working alongside a group of local singers, was the recipient of the SOUNZ Community Commission award leading to the creation of an original a cappella piece ‘Call of the Ocean’.
The $2,000 SOUNZ award brings New Zealand professional composers and community groups together to create and perform a new work. This year, Jessie who was part of the Nelson Bays Harmony Chorus during her school years, approached the group and together they brainstormed ideas which Jessie then formed into a song and put to music.
“‘Jessie’s song’, as we call it, is more like a poem set to music and sung by us and it’s such an honour to perform it under her guidance,” says chorus member Carole Brown.
Carole says the call of the ocean is something our island nation resonates with, whether it be the sound, feel, touch or smell.
‘Call of the Ocean’ will be performed at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts on Saturday 19 June.
The chorus have recently returned from a successful National Barbershop Contest in Christchurch where they won the audience appreciation award. They will also perform this at the concert.