St James Anglican Church, Kerikeri

05/06/2026

WORKING BEE SCHEDULED FOR 6TH JUNE HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR A WEEK

Due to the rain we have had and which is forecast for tomorrow, the Working Bee has been postponed till next Saturday 13th June. It will be the same time 9am – 12pm, with a scrumptious morning tea in the hall.
If you haven't done so already, please put your name on the list in the hall beside an available task.
Thanks everyone!

04/06/2026

Pew sheet for Te Pouhere Sunday - 7 June 2026

28/05/2026

Pew sheet for Trinity Sunday - 31st May 2026

23/05/2026

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🌟Meet our Tenor Soloist: Scott Bezett

We're pleased to welcome back Scott Bezett as our tenor soloist for Mendelssohn's Elijah on the 24th May at 2:30pm at the Turner Centre.

Originally from Lake Mahinerangi in Otago and now based in Hamilton, Scott initially trained as a baritone at the University of Otago, singing roles in operas by Mozart, Menotti, and Gilbert & Sullivan, alongside the concert repertoire of Bach and Fauré.

He made his debut as a tenor when he was soloist in Mozart's Requiem with City Choir Dunedin and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, and he's since performed with New Zealand Opera, Opera Otago, and Days Bay Opera.

A keen recitalist, Scott has performed major song cycles by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Korngold, Mahler, and Poulenc. He is a four-time alumnus of the prestigious New Zealand Opera School.

The tenor's role in Elijah...

The tenor takes on two contrasting characters. As Obadiah, the faithful servant of God, he opens the work with an urgent call to the people to turn back to faith. He also portrays King Ahab, the ruler whose weakness has led Israel astray. This role provices some of the oratorio's most intense confrontations with the prophet Elijah.

Scott's performed with us before and we're excited ot have him back. Bring a friend to listen to this engaging and dramatic story unfold. It will be quite the Sunday afternoon!

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/may/mendelssohns-elijah?occurrence=2026-05-24

📆 24th May at 2:30
📍Turner Centre, Kerikeri
💵 $40 adults, $15 students 18 and under, $5 Community Services card holders
💲 Programmes available for a koha. Cash only, no EFTPOS.

23/05/2026

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🌟 Meet our Conductor, John Jackets and learn why he chose Elijah for this performance this coming Sunday at 2:30 at the Turner Centre.

John Jackets has been musical director of the Bay of Islands Singers since 2009. Under his direction, the choir has grown from 30 members to 60, and now presents an annual two-concert series with orchestra each year.

Originally from the UK, John and his wife Jane moved to Kerikeri in 1990. Alongside his work with our choir, he directs the annual community carols event in Kerikeri, and trains and conducts the choir at St James Anglican Church, where he has also served as Chairman of the Church Council.

In 2018 John was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to music.

When asked why he chose Elijah for this performance, he replied:

"I have always been interested in performing major choral works with a community choir, giving both singers and audiences an opportunity to experience these masterpieces, sadly not often heard these days.

Mendelssohn’s Elijah is one of the truly great choral works and has been a gigantic hit with audiences since it was first performed in 1846 in England and continues to be so. It is also hugely popular with choirs because of the wonderfully dramatic vocal score.

Elijah is often performed with just organ but in this concert, we have a full orchestra to provide Mendelssohn’s rich and stunning accompaniment.

The choir and orchestra have wonderful music to sing and play and all four soloists have tuneful arias to sing, some of which are well known. The bass sings the role of Elijah in a dramatic vocal narration.

Recounting the life of the prophet Elijah, it is more operatic than any other choral piece I know expressing a range of emotions from despair, hostility, to joy and forgiveness . It has a dramatic story line with music depicting a drought, sacrifice, fire and earthquake. There is even a fiery chariot!

A performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah is a rare treat not to be missed by any music lover wanting to experience the rich tradition of choral music."

🎟️ Tickets: https://bit.ly/4uQof5G
📆 24th May at 2:30
📍Turner Centre, Kerikeri
💲 Programmes available for a koha. Cash only, no EFTPOS.

23/05/2026

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We're thrilled to announce that Joel Amosa will be performing the role of Elijah this Sunday at 2:30 at the Turner Centre.

Joel is a Samoan bass-baritone from South Auckland. He made his NZ Opera debut in 2019 as Fiorello in The Barber of Seville and was a Young Artist with NZ Opera, where he sang Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro.

Winner of the 2018 Lexus Song Quest, Joel’s prize led to performances and study abroad, including engagements in San Diego, masterclasses in Italy, and a portrayal of Sir John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor with the Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program in Brisbane. His roles include Fiorello (The Barber of Seville), Antonio (The Marriage of Figaro), Masetto (Don Giovanni) with Wellington Opera, Edmund Bertram (Mansfield Park), and Daedalus (The Monster in the Maze) Joel returns to Antonio for the NZ Opera season of Marriage of Figaro 2026.

Offstage, Joel is the Community Engagement Manager at ASB Bank, leading a national team that builds connections between communities, schools, and accessible banking services.

Joel's performace is not to be missed so get your tickets now!

🎟️ Ticlets: https://bit.ly/49lBD9t
📆 24th May at 2:30
📍Turner Centre, Kerikeri
💵 $40 adults, $15 students 18 and under, $5 Community Services card holders

23/05/2026

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🌟 Meet our Alto Soloist: Allison Harker

We're thrilled to welcome mezzo-soprano Allison Harker to Kerikeri as our alto soloist for Mendelssohn's Elijah at the Turner Centre on Sunday, 24th May at 2:30pm.

Allison's recent highlights include Handel's Messiah with Auckland Choral, and Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! with NZ Opera and Opus Orchestra.

She holds a Bachelor's in Opera Performance and a Diploma in Vocal Performance from the University of British Columbia, and has performed with the Banff Centre, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Northern Czech Orchestra, and the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy.

What will her role be in Elijah?

In Mendelssohn's oratorio, the alto sings the part of the Angel. She's the voice of comfort and reassurance who appears to Elijah in his moments of doubt and exhaustion. When the prophet is alone in the wilderness, weary and ready to give up, it's the Angel who speaks to him and reminds him that he is not abandoned. Some of the most tender music in the entire work belongs to her.

She also takes on the role of Queen Jezebel, whose fury drives much of the drama in Part II, and provides some of the most emotionally charged moments of the piece.

Don't miss Allison's performance with us. Bring a friend and come hear one of the great oratorios brought to life right here in the Bay of Islands.

🎟️ Tickets: https://bit.ly/49lBD9t

📆 24th May at 2:30
📍Turner Centre, Kerikeri
💵 $40 adults, $15 students 18 and under, $5 Community Services card holders

Learn more about Allison at allisonharker.com.

23/05/2026

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🌟Meet our Soprano Soloist: Tania Priebs-Cook

We're delighted to feature soprano—and Kerikeri local—Tania Priebs-Cook as our soprano soloist for Mendelssohn's Elijah this Sunday, 24th May at 2:30 at the Turner Centre.

Tania’s passion for classical singing began at just nine when she started training with Carol Maher. As a successful competitor on the NZ performing arts circuit, she received numerous awards including runner-up in the NZ Beecroft Aria Competition.
She was Rotorua Young Performer of the Year in 2007. She graduated from University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and was the University’s Musician of the Year in 2009.

Tania has performed with NZ Opera, Operatunity, and The Opera Factory. While at the Opera School, she trained with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Margaret Medlyn. Her performance experience has also included concert appearances alongside Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Andrea Bocelli.

In 2015, Tania returned to Kerikeri, where she founded the Vocal Centre of Excellence. She now specialises in teaching opera and musical theatre, with many students progressing to further vocal studies at NASDA and Brent Street.

In Elijah, Tania will be singing some of the most emotionally charged music in the entire oratorio. She takes on multiple characters, among them a grieving mother whose faith is tested and an Angel whose voice brings comfort and hope.

We're proud to have one of our own community taking the stage. Bring a friend. You won't want to miss Tania's performance .

🎟️ Tickets: https://bit.ly/4dsph0x

📆 24th May at 2:30
📍Turner Centre, Kerikeri
💵 $40 adults, $15 students 18 and under, $5 Community Services card holders
💲 Programmes available for a koha. Cash only, no EFTPOS.

22/05/2026

Pew sheet for Pentecost Sunday - 24 May 2026