SAY! Choir Competition reaches thrilling final stage

Naha Regal, CIP Honiara-based, and K2 Family Choir progress to final after intense Second Round

HONIARA, 25 JULY 2023 – The Sing Above Yourself (SAY!) Choir Competition is set to culminate in an electrifying showdown as three exceptional choir groups secure the top three spots in Honiara’s first-of-its-kind choir event.

Naha Regal Community Choir, Central Islands Province (CIP) Honiara-based Choir Group, and K2 Family Group Choir are set to face off in the grand finale of the SAY! Choir Competition, scheduled for Sunday 6 August at the Dreamcast Theatre Hub in Honiara.

The finalists emerged from a pool of six competitors who delivered extraordinary performances in the second round last Sunday. During this round, each of the six participating choir groups presented their own rendition of Leonard Cohen’s iconic “Hallelujah” hit song, along with a Climate Change-themed performance of their choice.

Impressed by the exceptional talent displayed, local renowned musician and media personality, Jonathan Auna, who served on the SAY! Judging Panel, praised all participants, stating, “It’s evident that everyone has elevated their game since the first round. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.”

The finalists were chosen based on scoring by three independent judges: Jonathan Auna, Sherri Komasi, and Alfred Saba.

The competition commenced with a preliminary round of auditions, featuring 23 registered choir groups earlier this month. Eight groups advanced to the first elimination round, from which six finalists were selected for Round Two. Finally, the competition narrowed down to the three top contenders who will vie for victory in the highly anticipated final showcase.

Naha Regal Community Choir stood out with their exceptional solo performances and innovative twist to “Hallelujah” which was beautifully rendered in the Vella La Vella and Malaita’s Langa Langa dialects.

K2 Family Choir impressed the judges with their stellar performance, earning a well-deserved wild card entry into the finals.

Meanwhile, the CIP Honiara-based Choir Group left the audience awe-struck with their perfectly orchestrated performance of the classroom favourite “The Time Is Now” for the Climate Change category.

Daniel Kakadi, Chairman of the CIP Honiara-based Committee and a lead vocalist of their choir team, expressed their excitement as finalists, saying, “Our CIP Honiara-Based Choir is overwhelmed, and we are looking forward to representing all our [Central Islands] young people. We dedicate our final performance to all our people from Ngella, Russell, and Savo, both in Honiara and within our three islands.”

The SAY! Choir Competition offers prizes totalling $22,000, a recording deal, and a music video opportunity for the winning choir group.

Initiated and funded by Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, the competition’s overarching vision revolves around creating a Solomon Islands where peace revolves around its people, and meaningful and heartfelt art development fosters kindness and understanding.

Dreamcast pledged their gate earnings from Sunday’s event to support 18-year-old Joy Tehinginga Makaua, who is suffering from a heart condition. Joy’s family has recently made public appeals for assistance with Joy’s urgent medical expenses.

Through their Art of Giving initiative, Dreamcast has raised $3,720 and expressed their gratitude to everyone for supporting Joy’s cause.

On their Facebook page, Dreamcast acknowledged and applauded every participating choir group, including St. Nicholas Anglican High School Choir – the sole school competitor, Jericho 2 Community Choir, Transfiguration Vura Parish Choir, and Agape Choir.

“Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands wholeheartedly thanks every single person who participated in the second round of the SAY! Choir Competition. Your dedication to rehearsals outside of school and in your communities, away from your families at times, is deeply appreciated. Each moment spent creating performances centred on themes relevant to our country demonstrates your patriotism as Solomon Islanders. Congratulations to the groups that have made it to the grand final of the competition.”

Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, a youth-led, art-focused organization in Solomon Islands, aims to inspire artists through challenges, encourage meaningful dialogues, and cultivate ideas that contribute to the betterment of society.