Joy in Singing

Discover the imaginative and innovative performances of the Jubilate Singers under the musical direction of Philip Norman CNZM. Since the choir's inception in 1977 the Jubilate Singers have earned a national reputation for high quality a cappella sacred and secular works, jazz arrangements and works with orchestral accompaniment.

Discover more

Welcome.

Welcome to the Jubilate Singers, a Christchurch (New Zealand) SATB chamber choir of around 30 singers conducted by Music Director Philip Norman. The 'Jubes' present 3-4 public concerts a year featuring a wide range of international and New Zealand choral music and we are well-known for our innovative programming and consistently high standard.

Read our Music Director's Report for the year ending 31 January 2021 for a summary of our recent activities. Or learn more about his upcoming premiere of 'Resilience – A symphonic diary of a difficult decade', a piece to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the February 2011 earthquakes.

Want to sing with us? We are currently looking for singers. See our 'Join' page for more information.

Latest Updates

After two months of recess due to the Covid-19 Omicron wave, we resumed rehearsals at our new regular venue in the Knox Church Hall on Bealey Avenue on Monday 2nd May. We are enjoying the wonderful acoustics with plenty of space for healthy singing.

Our next concert will be ‘Fabulous Folk’ at the Rolling Stone Restaurant and Bar on Colombo Street on Saturday 6th August. There will be two performances, in the format of our Jubilate Swingers gigs that were so popular in 2019 and 2020, at 3.30pm and 8.00pm. Fabulous Folk will feature a range of lively folk songs from around the world, conducted by Philip Norman and once again accompanied by our talented guest musicians Amandine Guerin (violin) Ted Meager (drums) and Brad Grainger (acoustic bass). Please diary this event now!

Advance notice: A Philip Norman Retrospective Concert will be held on Sunday 30th October to celebrate Philip’s 50 years of composing at The Piano. This concert of choral works will be recorded by SOUNZ for posterity. Don't miss this highlight of our year!

Upcoming Concerts

Fabulous Folk

6th August 2022

Join us for an entertaining programme of international folk songs in the format of our popular Jubilate Swingers gigs. There's a bit of something for everyone, with a lively range of old favourites and new tunes.

Fabulous Folk will be conducted by Philip Norman and accompanied by our talented guest musicians Amandine Guerin (violin), Ted Meager (drums), and Brad Grainger (acoustic bass).

Event Details:

Saturday, 6th August 2022
Performances at 3:30pm and 8pm

Venue:

A Rolling Stone Restaurant and Bar
579 Colombo Street
Christchurch Central

Sir Arthur Sullivan: A musical portrait

1st January 2023

SORRY, THIS CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND POSTPONED UNTIL 2023 BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

A concert that puts the spotlight on a composer who wrote much more than a string of phenomenally popular comic operas in association with his librettist WS Gilbert. With the participation of the Risingholme Orchestra and soloists, the programme features perennial favourites from a number of these operas – including The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and The Mikado.

We also showcase a number of Sullivan’s works for orchestra, and for orchestra and choir, among them the first movement of his Symphony in E (“Irish”); choral excerpts from his incidental music to King Arthur; and his Boer War Te Deum.

Prepare to be surprised as well as entertained.

Sunday, 20 February 2022, 2pm

Venue: The Piano, 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch