Inakord World Music Choir

‘Inakord’, a Community World Music Choir, was established over 20 years ago. It was created to fulfil a desire in the Motueka area for people to gather and sing together regularly. We are an ‘open-access’ choir, and no auditions are required – just a love of singing together for fun and friendship.

Our repertoire includes songs from many different cultural traditions of the world – and we do our best to learn them in their original language. We sing informal acapella–style, mostly in 3 or 4-part harmony. Songs are taught orally so reading music is not a requirement.

We mostly sing songs for our own enjoyment and occasionally we also perform for the public. Inakord is part of the ‘Top of the South’ community choirs organisation (TOTs), which includes 8 choirs from Nelson, Golden Bay and Greymouth. These groups come together once a year for either a ‘Gathering’ or a Combined Choirs public performance which is always a highlight of the year.

Inakord is led by Barbie Cole and Verena Gruner who are both members of Riverside Community and have co-led this choir from its very beginning.

The choir meets on Monday evenings in the Hall at the Riverside Community Centre in Lower Moutere during the school term. Each session is usually attended by 20 to 30 men and women who come from the wider Motueka area.

We begin our evenings with a short warm-up session –sometimes gentle body exercises – followed by a short voice warm-up. We then start singing with simple rounds to tune in with each other before graduating to singing songs in 3 and 4-part harmony. During the evening we revisit old favourites and also learn some new songs to add to our repertoire. Socialising is an important part of our get-together, so we always pause for a cup of tea and allow for time to chat.

If you are interested come along and check it out.
Please contact Barbie Cole: email colebarbie1@gmail.com