Professor Peter Godfrey CBE, Peter Averi ONZM, and Ellen Barrett were honoured with Life Membership by the Kapiti Chorale for their valuable support and encouragement of the choir at the choir's 25th Anniversary Gala Concert in November 2008.

Each has been a stalwart supporter of the Kapiti Chorale over the years.

Renowned organist Peter Averi and Music Director of TV's 'Praise Be', has played at most of the choir's concerts. As well as accompanying the choir, Peter has invariably been called upon to perform organ solos as part of the programme.

Ellen Barrett is well known as a soloist with the choir and for many years has been our talented practice pianist. As well as accompanying us on the piano she has also taught us much about voice production and control during our practice warm-ups. She was a singer in one of the first concerts of the early Waikanae Chorale, as it was known at its inception by Kapiti musician Lois McNeil.

We thank them for their contribution over the years and hope that their involvement will continue for many more.

These are the first Life Memberships awarded by the Kapiti Chorale, and at the award presentation in 2008 our then President Norma McCallum said: "We are honoured and delighted to have the encouragement of such eminent musicians who call the Kapiti Coast home."

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In August 2013 (being our 30th Anniversary), we awarded Marie Brown with a Life Membership in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Kapiti Chorale over her 8 years of directorship - from 2005 to 2013.