Rehearsal, with Joanne Roelofs conducting, Karen Boyce on piano

The choir meets in the Pettit Centre, next to Our Lady of Grace church, on Monday nights from approximately 7:00 to a little after 9:00.  Rehearsals usually start in February, and continue until the last concert, which may be as late as December. We usually give two or three concerts a year in Upper Hutt, but the pattern varies; we have performed as far afield as Levin and Blenheim, or combined with other choirs, and given "home" and "away" concerts with them; larger forces give a chance of better accompaniment and soloists than we could afford on our own.

The usual venues have been churches or school halls, and more recently the “Expressions” arts centre.  Concerts are usually given on Sunday afternoons.  Rehearsals at the concert venue are normal; usually on a regular Monday, and also closer to performance.

For the choir's own concerts, uniforms changed in August 2006; women now wear long green skirts and black knitted tops with hand-painted “paua” scarves; scarves ($20) skirt material (about $25?) and some spare skirts are available from the choir.  Men's dress consists of dark trousers, preferably black, and a long-sleeved black shirt; the choir provides green bow ties to match the women's skirts.  Everyone wears black shoes, and is usually expected to discard jewellery.