Nelson Civic Choir is a community-based choir that is one of the oldest community choirs in the country. We celebrated our 160th anniversary in 2020.
In 1988 the choir acquired its present name, reflecting its place in the community. A recent trend, welcomed by the choir, has been the participation of younger singers who have subsequently gone on to further their studies in music.
We are a non-audition choir, which means that any singer in the Nelson region is welcomed. You do not have to be able to read music to join Nelson Civic Choir. We use sheet music and rehearse with an accompanist.
Constitution of the Nelson Civic Choir Incorporated
2022 Constitution accepted by members of the N.C.C. Inc. at the 2021-22 AGM on 26th April 2022
Our Vision
Sing to our hearts content and our audiences delight.
Our Mission
- Foster and develop a supportive singing environment
- Aspire to a standard of excellence
- Develop members singing skills
- Advance music education
Our Committee Core Values
- Respect for and valuing each other
- Being transparent, open and positive in our communication
- Being empathetic
- Being fiscally responsible
Our Committee
Committee (from 7 Oct 2025)
Chair Todd Padgett – [email protected]
Deputy Chair Inga Lane
Treasurer Gretchen Howard – [email protected]
Secretary Irene de Jong – [email protected]
Committee Alli Cormack – [email protected]
Messiah Reimagined Production Team
Music & Artistic Director: Jason Balla [email protected]
Membership Coordinator & Advertising: Gretchen Howard [email protected]
Budget Management: Gretchen Howard
Librarians: Alison Wallace, Nancy Davis, Steph Hoffman [email protected]
Sponsorship: Mary Bronsteter & Todd Padgett [email protected]
Advertising: Todd Padgett
Design: Suzie Peacock
Website & Front of House: Sarah Holmes
Secretary & Tickets: Irene de Jong [email protected]
Stage Manager: Ann Briggs
Hospitality: Inga Lane
Join us
We are a non-audition choir, which means that any singer in the Nelson region is welcomed. You do not have to be able to read music to join Nelson Civic Choir. We use sheet music and rehearse with an accompanist. Learning new musical repertoire and participating in concert performances is an enjoyable and life-enhancing activity for our members and gives pleasure to our audiences.
As a member there are regular concerts, social occasions, workshops and more.
When: We meet every Tuesday at NCMA’s recital room from 6.50pm to 9pm starting with warmups.
Membership Fees: Our annual subscription, which includes the loan of music we are singing, venue hire, conductor’s and accompanist’s fees, was set at the AGM and is $200 a year. Full-time students under 25 years old: $20. If you join after our first performance, the fee will be $150, and after the second performance, $75. If you are experiencing hardship, please talk to a committee member about staged payments. The bank account is NBS: Nelson Civic Choir 03-1354-0642611-00. Please reference the payment with ‘subs’ and your name.