Kids for Kids concerts lineup

Kids for Kids concerts lineup

Kiwi singing sensation Suzanne Prentice is set to take the stage with local school children once more in her thirteenth year of World Vision Kids for Kids concerts.

The Kids for Kids team will begin in Thames on October 10 and will travel down through the central North Island, ending in Wellington on November 16. There will be shows in Christchurch and Auckland closer to Christmas time.

Kids for Kids is an incredibly successful concept whereby children from local schools gather to put on a concert, led by Suzanne Prentice, for friends and family. The children learn the songs in their school choir practice times leading up to the concert. Thirteen years after they began, Kids for Kids concerts still regularly sell out.

At this time of year the programme features Christmas songs ranging from the traditional to modern and the children dress up to create a festive spirit.

Concert manager Russell Johnson and his team drive around the country to put on the concerts and manage everything from finding ticketing agents to advertising, setting up staging to dealing with the media. Next year will be Russell's twentieth working for World Vision.

"The teachers love it, the children love it and the music teachers preparing the children's choirs always respond with absolute enthusiasm," he says.

The Kids for Kids concerts provide an opportunity for children to perform and entertain their families alongside other children from their region. The ticket sales cover the costs of putting on the show, but audience members are also encouraged to help raise money children living in poverty overseas, by sponsoring a child thorough World Vision.

"The public response to these concerts is always absolutely wonderful. Almost 4000 children have been sponsored over the years as a result of Kids for Kids," says Russell. "And at this time of year, it's nice to be able to spread the spirit of giving wider than our own families and help children living in desperate poverty."

Despite having given more than 460 performances, Suzanne Prentice shows no signs of being tired of Kids for Kids.

"It's just wonderful seeing the kids enjoying themselves so much through something so simple as music and song. It's really nice to be part of something that gives back to children," she says.

More than 15,000 New Zealand children took part in World Vision Kids for Kids concerts last year; and a total of 150,000 children have taken part over the past 12 years.

World Vision's Kids for Kids concerts are highly professional productions and suitable for all ages to attend. Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for children.

Tour dates:

October 10
Thames War Memorial Civic Theatre
Tickets from Memorial Theatre, 07 668 6971
Thames Information Centre, 07 868 7284

October 12
Matamata Baptist Church
Tickets from Frasers Take Note, 07 688 7787

October 15
Plaza Theatre, Putaruru
Tickets from Plaza, 07 883 8596
or Putaruru Info Centre, 06 883 7284

October 17 and 18
Whakatane Liberty Centre
Tickets from 1XX FM, phone 07 308 6239

November 01 and 02
Central Hawkes Bay College, Waipukurau
Tickets from CHB Paper Power, phone 06 858 7152

November 05 and 06
Rathkeale College, Masterton
Tickets from iticket.co.nz, 0508 484 253

November 08 and 09
Southward Theatre, Kapiti
Tickets from Ticket Direct, 04 902 9885
Coastlands Shoppingtown Customer Services Desk

November 12
Lane Park Centre, Upper Hutt
Tickets from iticket.co.nz, or phone 0508 494 253

November 14
Town Hall, Lower Hutt
Tickets from iticket.co.nz, or phone 0508 494 253

November 16
The Street City Church, Wellington
Tickets from iticket.co.nz, or phone 0508 484 253

http://www.worldvision.org.nz/happenings/calendar.asp

ENDS

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