On tour in Argentina with NZSSC a group of us linked arms  as we walked through the streets of Buenos Aires, singing Si te quiero es por que sos. It’s a beautiful ballad that served as a political love song to the people of Argentina during a dark period of politics that saw thousands of people ‘disappear’ in horrible circumstances. The lyrical content points to two lovers walking hand-in-hand in the street, but the poem took on a completely deeper and stronger meaning for Argentinian during this turbulent time. In terms of its place in the musical folklore of the country, it’s akin to our Pokarekare Ana.

Almost ten years later, I still clearly remember the looks on the faces of the people on the street; some looked surprised, others openly emotional. The most remarkable thing happened, people started singing along and walking with us! We looked up above and people in apartments  were throwing open their windows and also singing. It was like a movie scene and it was one of the purest moments of connection with music I’ve ever experienced. They didn’t know why we were singing their song, and we could not have possibly anticipated the reaction, but the joy and the emotion from that spur of the moment decision to just start singing will always stay with me.

I first heard about NZSSC from my grandmother who had read about it in the paper. We were not a particularly musical family, but everybody in the family loved music of every variety. My grandmother used to sing Maori lullabies to me and my dad forced a musical education of sorts on me — Freddy Mercury, Queen, Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers every morning on the way to kindergarten.

But there were two people who really inspired me. Sharon Stephens, my violin teacher, and Coryn Knapper, my first vocal teacher. I learned to read, write and interpret classical music and that’s where it all started to make sense for me.

When I joined the choir as a shy fourteen year old, I was a relatively timid musician but an enthusiastic singer. Robert Wiremu  (NZSSC Artistic Director at the time) would tell us to ‘put the end consonant on the final quaver’. I had absolutely no idea what to mark in my score. It was a scary experience to begin with, but I loved it and I wanted to learn. The skills I gained were immensely useful. I learned to think faster, work in a team, sing and think as a chorister. I learned to appreciate and sing a variety of musical works that I came to love and I am pretty sure I could probably still sing most of them from memory today! … NZSSC gave me the most incredible chance to travel this beautiful country and to travel overseas for the first time; I’ll be always grateful for that.

My most embarrassing memory from NZSSC was when auditioning for a solo in front of Robert. I was the youngest in the choir and very nervous. My voice started wobbling and shaking and I thought I was going to melt into the floor with sweaty embarrassment. It was awful! I didn’t get the part but it was a highlight in a way, teaching me a lesson about preparation and dealing with nerves.

I made life-long friends like Isabella Moore, a friend and inspiration in recent years as we have both traversed the operatic field in New Zealand and overseas. She’s been so supportive and kind to me. It always gives me joy when I see some of the amazing things everyone is doing now, and the career paths we are on. A couple of ex-NZSSC members are based in London now, which is where I am heading, so hopefully we can catch up! While you may not remain as close as you once were during the choir, there is a network of incredible people out there who I was fortunate enough to spend just a bit of time with, and who I know I can reach out to.

I auditioned for the Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist programme with New Zealand Opera because I had always seen it as a goal. My first audition was unsuccessful and for a little while I was quite disappointed. Then I realised that I had been handed the chance to go away and rethink. Dame Malvina took me on as a pupil and supported me but also let me know exactly what was missing in my singing. We worked together and I kept competing in as many competitions I could. I was successful the following year and I had the most marvellous experience working with New Zealand Opera as an intern. It was one of the best and most rewarding years in my singing life so far.

I first heard about the Lexus Song Quest when it was still the Mobil Song Quest. I knew Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major had won and I remember, at seven years old, asking my grandmother when I would be old enough to enter. So it had been a dream for a long time! In 2014, the  first time I auditioned, I was the youngest semi-finalist and awarded the Radio New Zealand listener’s prize. My friend Isabella Moore won the whole thing! Last year, I came  third. it was an absolutely incredible moment. A highlight was also meeting Yvonne Kenny, an Australian soprano, whose voice I have always loved and who will be my singing teacher in London.

I studied at Auckland University under Dr. Morag Atchison primarily, coached by Rosemary Barnes, David Kelly and Robert Wiremu. While I was there, I also attended the NZ Opera School. NZOS has been an integral part of my music training. It focuses on a holistic approach to training; daily fitness exercises (yoga, walking, muscle training), language and music coaching, voice lessons, stage craft, concert work, public and private master classes, it’s pretty full-on!

I became passionate about Pacifica Youth Education at Auckland University. I had a job as a Pasifika Student Mentor and Ambassador, which involved travelling out to high schools around Auckland and talking to the students about tertiary studies/helping them with any exams we could. It really motivated me to represent my communities as best I can, because role-modelling for our rangatahi is so important. Just as I look up to the examples of those New Zealanders who have been such trail blazers in the Classical Music world (the likes of Dame Malvina Major, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Iosefa Enari, Simon O’Neill, and most recently, Pene and Amitai Pati, Isabella Moore), there are the next generation of students coming through who are looking to us to help them on their way, too.

My other great passion is history. I recently contributed to a WW100 project called Luck of the Draw. I have taken a real keen interest in New Zealand history of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the ways in which our identity as Kiwis has been formed by world events, as well as local events. Luck of the Draw was a great chance to do something quite challenging. I’ve never written lyrics for a hip hop song before! It was a meeting of two of my loves.

Duffy Books in Homes is also close to my heart. My grandfather was always buying and sneaking books into the house under my grandmother’s nose (who insisted we had too many!). He would read me a story every night. Through Duffy Books, thousands of children across the country receive free books and are actively encouraged to read and be engaged in their learning. As a volunteer, my work is to go into the schools, give talks to the students and distribute the books. I hope Duffy Books in Homes continues to help support the young New Zealanders for a long time to come!

Right now I’m preparing to sing the role of Giulietta in Bellini’s, ‘I Capuleti e I Montecchi’ to be produced by the Auckland Opera Studio in 2018. We’re rehearsing so early because half the cast is moving to the UK next month. I’m also getting ready to travel to Melbourne in two weeks for a recital at the Australian National Academy of Music with Liam Wooding, a student at Auckland University with me. A typical day for me involves a lot of poetry as I am trying to memorise Schumann’s Liederkries Op.39 for this recital. I’m also prepping for two competitions in the next two weeks! It is a busy month but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My goal has always been to be the very best singer and performer I can be. in the future, I would love to be working in Europe as well as at home with New Zealand Opera. But I have a lot of study and apprenticeship to go to earn my stripes. Hopefully I will be working with inspiring people and getting to study/perform operatic repertoire that is appropriate for my voice type, and challenging for me. As long as I’m in work that keeps me busy and in love with my career, I’ll be happy.

To young singers just starting out I would say: you can do it! There’s no one way to go, and there’s plenty of people out there who are going to help and support you. A career in music has its challenges and is not without disappointment. I’m still in the process of being able to turn the ‘no’s into ‘not yet’s. That skill is a necessary one in music. Just remember that not everybody’s path is the same and everyone has their day. Music is about love, despair, old stories, new ones. You have to experience the range  yourself, otherwise what kind of musician would you be? If you’re willing to work hard, set realistic goals and stay determined, I think things have a way of working out.

It’s one of three concerts over the weekend that will mark the end of a six-day Christchurch visit. Following the SCAPE concert, our national choir for 13-18 year olds will give a more formal performance at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 3:15pm, 7 October, and the next day at the Transitional Cathedral’s morning service.

NZSSC gathers our finest young voices from all over the country and offers a once in a lifetime opportunity — a two-year membership to learn from top vocal teachers and consultants.  Members meet every school holidays for intensive workshops and rehearsals.  While in Christchurch, students will also receive performance coaching from actor, Jennifer Ward-Lealand  and kapa haka training from Christchurch-based Puanaki Whanau.

There are currently four Christchurch members in the choir:  Samantha Hickford of Christchurch Girls High School; Alex Meekings of Burnside High School; Holly Evans of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School; and Billie MacGibbon of St Margaret’s College.

NZSSC students rehearse under the direction of Andrew Withington, a Christchurch local who recently completed his PhD in Choral Pedagogy at Canterbury University. Composer, pianist and conductor Matthew Everingham will also join the choir for the week as a resident intern. Matthew currently runs the choral programme at St Andrew’s College and through the NZSSC will receive invaluable experience conducting and accompanying a national-level choir.

New Zealand Secondary Students Choir Performing in Christchurch:

Sat 7 October, 11am, Free entry
Margaret Mahy Playground

Sat 7 October, 3:15pm
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, $25 adults, $15 concession, $10 seniors.
Book at: www.nzsschoir.com/events. Door sales cash/cheque only.

Sun 8 October, 10am
Christchurch Transitional Cathedral

For more information, interviews or images, contact:
Rachel Healy, PUBLICIST. 027 5277732, rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz

Matthew went to St Bedes College in Christchurch then Canterbury University, where he gained a Bachelor of Music in Composition. An accomplished pianist, he also has an ATCL piano performance diploma from Trinity College London and has worked as both a conductor and composer. Matthew says, “After hearing NZSSC sing at choral connect in Auckland this year I can’t wait to conduct them myself!”

We asked him about his own musical aspirations so far.

Always loved music?
Of course! We always had a piano at home that I would tinker on.  I also remember the music from childhood movies, apparently Snow White was the first film score I fell in love with at age 3!

I’m certainly still ‘closest’ with the piano but orchestrally, I also have a secret admiration for cello and French horn

Other inspirations?
I love watching Leonard Bernstein’s incredible masterclasses in conducting and all things musical. Also Stephen Sondheim’s books on composition and writing.

You’re a composer as well as a performer and conductor. What do you love most?
The buzz you get from hearing your own work performed is pretty awesome, but then again so is conducting!

Tell us about your film and theatre work?
Theatre makes up a large part of my freelance career, most recently I conducted a season of Sister Act at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch. I’ve also worked at The Court Theatre, Showbiz Christchurch and NASDA as a music director, composer and pianist. I recently returned from the New York University summer film scoring workshop in central Manhattan composing and orchestrating my own short film score which was incredible. I got to work with composers Mark Snow (The X Files) and Michael Levine (The Hunger Games).

What’s on your playlist?
The film scores of Alexandre Desplat, Bernard Hermann and John Powell, not to mention jazz artists like Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett. I’m also a fan of the Spotify low key electronic vibes playlist, as well as minimalists like John Adams …. I really can’t make my mind up!

Any advice for school leavers with dreams of a career in music?
Never be afraid to follow a career in music and the arts, it’s a world of opportunity both in New Zealand and abroad. Study your passion and while doing so look for every opportunity to put your love for music into practice in the real world.  Never forget that it is numerous other people who make your music-making possible, so treat them well!

Image above: Wendy Riley (Showbiz Christchurch)

You’ve recently moved to Wainuiomata, how’s that going?

I absolutely LOVE the Hutt Valley.  There’s s a genuine sense of community, almost every day I talk to my neighbour over the fence.  The morning commute is atrocious, but my late evening drive takes only minutes.

Your new Bichon Frise puppies, Boris and Dmitri, have a fine pedigree …

Their Dad, born in Russia, is a New Zealand champion show dog, and their grandad who lives in Russia is a world champion show dog. I should mention that we will not be taking these boys to dog shows, but did want to make sure our puppies came from a healthy bloodline.  They are gentle, playful, cunning, and super fast. Their most annoying habit is escaping! They seem to think now it is a game to continually find weaknesses in the fencing of our massive backyard.  They recently broke through into my neighbours’, had a quick play with their dog, and then broke through another fence and played with their dog…. a gargantuan female bullmastiff. You can see the boys here.

You’ve said you used to find choral music boring …

Yes, but over several years I’ve been involved in a huge amount of choral research and performance, and I now find anything with voice significantly more exciting than purely instrumental music.

You’re Head of the Music Department at Wellington East Girls’ College, Music Director of The Orpheus Choir of Wellington and Sub-Principal Percussionist with Orchestra Wellington. What’s been your career highlight so far? 

There are so many, but conducting The Rite of Spring is certainly one of them. You can watch here.

What’s great about NZSSC?

I love the fact that all the students and staff are so different from one another, and yet we come together in this very unique context and create astoundingly unified music.

And the challenges?

The chaos that occurs right before a concert. I often find myself quietly solving a problem right before the concert begins and then suddenly remember I too am a performer and need to get my head into that space.

How would you describe the 2017/18 choir?

Every choir begins with a slightly higher standard, which provides the music team with an exciting challenge of meeting their potential.  Compared to the last choir, I feel this choir is less fragmented in their social groups.  This makes a positive difference in rehearsals, touring and performing.

Can anyone learn to sing?

Yes!!  And the operative word is ‘learn’.  Often people say they are tone deaf but speak with varying pitch-inflection.  The common problem is that people try to sing in a register not suitable for them, often unable to discern the correct octave.

Do you still get nervous when you perform?

Now and then I get so nervous I feel sick.  The last time I felt that way was conducting a concert with Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony and Britten’s Four Sea Interludes.  There were hundreds of musicians on stage, following a very limited rehearsal period.  My mind was racing with what could go wrong.  The build-up was awful, but the nerves disappeared the moment I started conducting. As I get older, I’ve got better at managing anxiety before a concert.  I’ll  distract myself by doing something unrelated like watching Rick and Morty or Family Guy.

Other favourite TV shows …

The X-Files, Boston Legal, The West Wing.

Facebook or Instagram …

What’s Instagram?

What’s on your playlist?

In my own time, I don’t tend to listen to music.  Most of my day is already full of it.  However, I’m very eclectic in my ‘popular’ music tastes. I’m currently at my Mum and Dad’s place in Whangamata, and on the drive up I listened to The Smashing Pumpkins, Nina Simone, System Of A Down, and a lot of 50s pop.

What were you like as a teenager?

A total geek and a teacher’s pet.  Really into electronics, computer programming, physics and music.  I had two very close friends, one girl and one ginger boy.  We were basically the Harry Potter trio — I was Harry.  I remember being overly committed. Nothing has changed.

Since I was 13, I was determined to be a secondary school music teacher.

Any advice for your teenage self?

Come out.

Read more about the NZSSC music team here.

Under the direction of Dr Andrew Withington, NZSSC gathers New Zealand’s finest young voices and offers a once in a lifetime opportunity — a two-year membership to learn from top vocal teachers and teachers that culminates in an international tour.

Despite the euphoria of making it into this prestigious choir, eight of the 57-strong choir will be feeling extra nerves as they gear up to perform in front of their ‘home crowd’. An astounding six students from the Manawatu, Carson Taare, Daniel Hodgetts, Robin Park, Josiah Nevell, Keun Hee Lee (PN Boys High School) and Shania Mika-Tamihana (PN Girls High), are preparing for the Palmerston North concert on the 21st. Amelia Foster from Woodford House and Sam Harris from Central Hawkes Bay College are looking forward to the Napier concert on 20 January.

The students are following on from some of our biggest opera names. In 2016, NZSSC celebrated its 30^th anniversary with an impressive alumni, including Simon O’Neill, Johnathan Lemalu, Christopher Bruerton, Anna Leese Guidi and Hawkes Bay soprano Madeleine Pierard.  Former Havelock North High School student, Benson Wilson, is another alumnus inspiring current members. Benson won the 2016 Lexus Song Quest and has gone on to study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Arriving in Hawkes Bay on January 17, the choir — made up of 13-18 year olds from all over New Zealand — will be rehearsing at Lindisfarne College leading up to the two concerts. This vibrant, young choir will offer a dynamic, multicultural repertoire, including works by Eric Whitacre, Shawn Kirchner, Pachelbel, Sydney Guillaume, David N. Childs and Puanaki Whanau.

In July 2018, NZSSC will head to Hong Kong to attend ‘Belt & Road’ World Choir Festival as well performances in Shanghai. In 2016, the choir had a blast on tour to Canada and as Guest Choir at the  International Choir Kathaumixw.

Read the Stuff article.

Read the Stuff review of the Manawatu concert.

New Zealand Secondary Students Choir Concerts
www.nzsschoir.com

Saturday 20 January, 7:30pm
Waipu Cathedral of St John, Napier, tickets here

Sunday 21 January, 2:15pm
Palmerston North Boys High School’s Speirs Centre, tickets here

For more information, interviews or images, contact:

Rachel Healy, PUBLICIST. 027 5277732, rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz

That’s until Greta’s father, John Melhuish, reminded her he’d sung there for many years, as had his father, his uncle, his cousins …. In fact, John’s not even sure how many of the Melhuish clan have been in the St John’s Cathedral Choir.  Amelia and her mother Natalie Stent both currently sing in the choir!

Amelia, from Woodford House, is the one of two Hawkes Bay students in NZSSC, our prestigious national choir for fourteen to eighteen year olds.  The other is Sam Harris from Central Hawkes Bay College (image attached). Greta, who was Head Girl of Wellington East Girls College in 2017 (John was Head Boy at Napier Boys in 1978) is NZSSC co-leader with Morgan King from Dilworth College.

NZSSC gathers New Zealand’s finest young voices and offers a once in a lifetime opportunity — a two-year membership to learn from top vocal teachers and consultants culminating in an international tour. In July 2018, Sam and Amelia will travel with the choir to Hong Kong to attend ‘Belt & Road’ World Choir Festivalas well performances in Shanghai. In 2016, NZSSC had a blast on tour to Canada and as Guest Choir at the  International Choir Kathaumixw.

Arriving in Hawkes Bay on 17 January, the 57-strong choir  will be rehearsing at Lindisfarne College in the lead-up to the Napier concert.  Under the direction of Dr Andrew Withington, this vibrant, young choir will offer a dynamic, multicultural repertoire, including works by Eric Whitacre, Shawn Kirchner, Pachelbel, Sydney Guillaume, David N. Childs and Puanaki Whanau.

All the students are following on from some of our biggest opera names. In 2016, NZSSC celebrated its 30^th anniversary with an impressive alumni, including Simon O’Neill, Johnathan Lemalu, Christopher Bruerton, Anna Leese Guidi and Hawkes Bay soprano Madeleine Pierard.  Former Havelock North High School student, Benson Wilson, is another alumnus inspiring current members. Benson won the 2016 Lexus Song Quest and has gone on to study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

New Zealand Secondary Students Choir in Hawkes Bay
Saturday 20 January, 7:30pm, Waipu Cathedral of St John
Adults $20, Students $10 with ID, tickets here

For more information, interviews or images, contact:

Rachel Healy, PUBLICIST. 027 5277732, rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz

Simon is an internationally acclaimed tenor who performs in some of the world’s most magnificent venues. And it all began in NZSSC in 1988! (Actually it began even before that with some wonderful teachers at Ashburton College). We fired Simon some questions …

How did you come to be in the choir?

At Ashburton College, I was very active in sports but my forté was music. I had three teaching mentors who developed my musical skills and love of performing, Gordon McGhie, Roderick Lonsdale and Robert Aburn. Robert was a huge influence and he steered me towards auditioning for NZSSC where I performed the only solo song I knew, The Music of the Night from Lloyd Webber’s Phantom! I cringe now but Roger Stevenson (previous NZSSC Director) must have seen potential, like he did for so many others, and he gave me a chance. It was the highlight of my year!

You have fond memories of NZSSC then…

I’m often asked how I got started in my operatic singing career. The answer is NZSSC—it  gave me my love of singing, it thrust me into wanting to develop my instrument to the highest level.

To be surrounded by like-minded young adults, all of whom I held in the highest respect, and make great music, it’s the bee’s knees! I had always been into music—piano, brass, rock, jazz, musicals, but the choir opened the door to the classical repertoire of singing. It was a new experience for me as a young musician.

NZSSC was the catalyst for my vocal development. I am so grateful to Roger Stevenson and his wonderful colleagues.

And you got to go on tour…

We went to the  1990 Pacific Basin Choral Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii. Two years earlier, I’d been part of the Canterbury Youth Band attending the Pacific Basin Brass Festival (playing the Euphonium) so I knew how fun it was going be. We sang the hell out of our repertoire and the judges rewarded the incredible level of polish Roger demanded from us. We performed a spiritual, ‘The Solid Rock’ with the great Robert Wiremu as soloist. I felt like I was part of a mid-Alabama State Baptist church choir! I was in awe of Robert’s voice, it was an honour to be in the backing choir.

How did you get to attend the Manhattan School of Music?

In life you get unexpected opportunities, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. My enrolment at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music came about through a disastrous debut in the role of Rodolfo in the Canterbury Opera production of La Bohéme. After that, I thought, ‘I better go and learn how to sing’! My teacher at the time, Frances Wilson, facilitated the application and I was accepted into the Masters programme on a 90% merit scholarship. Frances is another person who has guided me for much of my time studying voice, and throughout my career.

Seems like you are constantly travelling now …

Luckily I love flying and enjoy the travel—right now I am in Basel, last week Lausanne, Melbourne and Auckland and three weeks ago New York City and Munich. I’ll spend a week in Auckland and return to Europe for Die Walküre in Valencia, Spain.

Years ago, I remember watching a documentary on Italian Mezzo Soprano, Cecilia Bartoli where she complained about all the travel. I thought it would be a dream! Well, for the past twenty-two years I have travelled the globe studying, performing and now also as a voice teacher/coach.

I do miss my family terribly though. We live on Birkenhead Head Point in Auckland, our own slice of kiwi heaven, so my schedule means I am away for much of the year. I am indebted to my wife Carmel for bringing up our glorious children when I’m not there.

How do  you prioritise your performances and travel commitments? 

My priority is to perform in New Zealand as much as I can while I’m singing at the highest international level. My managers in London schedule my work for the season—they do an amazing job,  I am contracted with the finest orchestras and opera companies and with the most prestigious conductors on the planet. It is a thrill, a great honour, to perform with the New York Philharmonic one weekend, return to New Zealand and immediately commence rehearsals and perform at the Nelson Opera in the Park the following one. I don’t feel any difference in my standard of performance and view both with  exactly the same energy and professionalism.

Words of wisdom for our current members …

Keep singing! Some of you will audition for the NZ Youth Choir, as I did, and love it, as I did. Not everyone should or can be a professional musician or a professional opera singer, many ex-choir members are involved with music in many guises with careers in something completely different.

Whatever you do with your life, remember the wonderful times in the choir, thank the people involved and those who got you there—and keep in touch with your choir friends!

Read more about Simon on his website.

It was also in Crete where Ned met his wife Katina—a love story portrayed in author Patricia Grace’s 2009 book, Ned & Katina. Kaylim (pictured front centre) is one of 55 members of this internationally-celebrated choir, which is gathering in Wellington for intensive rehearsals and performances this week. As well as performing on ANZAC Day for the choir’s patron, her Excellency the Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, and national and international dignitaries, the following day the choir sings at parliament—at the invitation of Hon Chris Hipkins, Min of Education.  The week culminates in a concert at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday 28^th, with a dynamic and diverse repertoire conducted by Dr Andrew Withington. Details and tickets here. And there’s one more chance to catch them in Wellington—the 10am service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Sunday 29^th.

NZSSC gathers the country’s finest young voices and offers a once in a lifetime opportunity, a two-year membership to learn from top New Zealand vocal teachers and consultants. The choir really does change lives, some members have gone on to achieve international careers,  including Johnathan Lemalu, Christopher Bruerton, Tecwyn Evans, Anna Leese Guidi, Madeleine Pierard, rising opera star Benson Wilson and acclaimed operatic tenor Simon O’Neill (ONZM).  Simon has just accepted a role as the choir’s vice-patron.

Simon O’Neill credits NZSSC as the catalyst for his international operatic career, which sees him performing in some of the world’s most magnificent venues. Simon joined NZSSC in 1988 as a school boy at Ashburton College, he went on to the NZ Youth Choir before studying at the Manhattan School of Music. In the past few weeks, Simon has performed in New York, Munich,Basel, Lausanne and Melbourne and is currently in Valencia, Spain. “NZSSC gave me my love of singing,” he says.

In the July holidays, NZSSC will briefly gather in Auckland before travelling to Hong Kong and Shanghai to perform. Their tour includes working with top Hong Kong school and university choirs to present a new commission from NZ composer David Hamilton. Sung entirely in Mandarin and Maori, this will be a new challenge. In Hong Kong, they’ll also attend the Belt & Road World Choir Festival.

Read the Stuff article.

New Zealand Secondary Students Choir in concert in Wellington
Sat 28 April, 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Thorndon, Wellington
Adults: $25, seniors: $20, students: $10, intermediate and primary school students: FREE

Tickets online: www.nzsschoir.com/events/wellington-concert or on the door

For more information: Rachel Healy, PUBLICIST T: 0275277732 E: rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz 

And he’s done it!  Songs of the Moon and Stars will have its world premiere at the Auckland concert on 7^th July, before being shared and performed with Hong Kong’s Wah Yan College Kowloon Boys Choir and the Hong Kong Baptist University’s choir, Catoria. The project has evolved from NZSSC’s 2016 tour as Guest Choir to International Choral Kathaumixw where they first met Wah Yan, crowned ‘Choir of the World’ as winners of the festival’s top award.

David, where do you even begin when faced with a new choral commission?

Finding the right text is often the biggest challenge. Once I have that, I usually work quite quickly. The text ‘tells’ you what the music is going to be like.

Sometimes I have writer’s block, but there’s nothing like a deadline to unleash the creative urge again.

For this work, I was interested in the request to combine Chinese instruments with the choir. I’ve been wanting to explore Chinese instruments and this gave me a great opportunity to learn more about the erhu—a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, and guzheng—a 21-stringed zither.

It’s my first time working in Mandarin. Luckily my partner is originally from Taiwan so he helped me, and I had advice from a couple of other Chinese speakers I know. It was definitely an added challenge getting the right script into the score (Chinese has traditional and simplified forms).

We’re excited you’ll be joining us in Hong Kong—direct from Rome. Tell us what you’ve been up to …

I’m about to head to Italy where the top choirs from Westlake Girls and Boys High schools will perform, first off at St Peter’s in Rome! I was asked to write five new pieces for the Sunday afternoon Mass performance. The choirs are also singing three works of mine in a choral festival and competition in Florence.

In May, I attended the premiere of one of my works at Carnegie Hall. It came about through conductor Dr Jennifer Flory from Georgia College, who has performed and commissioned several works from me.

You’ve been involved with NZSSC for a while now …

The choir has sung and recorded several of my works over the years, although this is the first formal commission. I’ve also been a tutor for them and went on tour to Canada with the choir in 2000. I’ve always admired NZSSC so was delighted to be asked to write a new piece.

How did you discover your love of music?

Growing up in Taupo, there were limited opportunities to extend my interest in music. I only got involved with choirs when I went to Auckland University. Singing the Verdi ‘Requiem’ with the University Choral Society had me hooked, and I’ve been singing in choirs ever since. I also dived into composition during that time, and haven’t looked back. Peter Godfrey was my head of department, and very supportive of me.

I was a foundation member of the NZ Youth Choir and was delighted when they took two of my works, including a newly commissioned piece on the choir’s first tour. I’ve been a member of Auckland Choral since 1982 and am now its president.

You’re also a conductor and teacher, what keeps you going?

My students can still inspire me—maybe it’s an unusual way a student sets a text, or an ingenious manner of writing for an ensemble. I hope I have managed to instill my love of music in them, a willingness to explore new music, and be prepared to expose themselves to unusual and difficult pieces of music.

Like most creative people, there’s an inner drive to create and express yourself. I particularly enjoy writing choral music, but I’ve written for most forms and ensembles. I’ve always been keen to explore different composers and styles of music, although I am very fond of contemporary American music.

What are you most proud of?

My favourite work (and possibly best) dates from 1985, The Moon is Silently Singing for double choir and two horns. Often the piece I like least is the one I’ve just finished—I’m just glad to get it done and sent off! With time though, I come back and re-evaluate a work’s merits. Occasionally I finish a piece and think ‘yes, that’s a good one’!

Any advice for our members studying composition?

Compose! Compose lots of music. Take every opportunity to write music, and if necessary create your own opportunities. Offer to write for people. And listen to lots of music, in many different styles, from all eras. Learn from other composers and be involved as a performer. Join a choir and learn what music feels like from the inside.

Learn more about David’s work on his website

This internationally-celebrated choir will present a dynamic and diverse repertoire including the world premiere of David Hamilton’s new work, Songs of the Moon and Stars, combining Maori and Mandarin lyrics.

Well-known in Auckland as a respected teacher and choir leader, David is one of NZ’s most accomplished and widely performed composers. His works are performed by choirs all over the world, most recently in Italy, Japan, Singapore and the US. NZSSC has previously performed David’s compositions but this is the first time it has commissioned a work. “The brief was specific but challenging,’ says David, “It required text in Mandarin and Maori as well as being able to be performed by the entire 55-strong NZSSC and by an all-boys choir”.

In Hong Kong, the choir will perform at the Belt & Road World Choir Festival. NZSSC Artistic Director, Dr Andrew Withington says, “We are excited to be reunited with the Wah Yan College Kowloon Boys Choir who will perform David’s work with us. We first met the boys at a choral festival in Canada when we were ‘guest choir’ and they won ‘Choir of the World’”.

The Auckland concert will be a home-coming for the 20 local members, seven of whom are from Dilworth College, including Viliami Lutui, who is also in the NZ Secondary Schools Rugby team, and Takerei Komene, Auckland Youth Choir’s conducting intern. Takerei describes NZSSC as ‘a life-changing experience’, watch him interviewed: www.nzzschoir.com

Every two years, NZSSC gathers the country’s finest young voices and offers a once in a lifetime opportunity, a two-year membership to learn from top New Zealand vocal teachers and consultants.  Some members have gone on to achieve international careers,  including Johnathan Lemalu, Christopher Bruerton, Tecwyn Evans, Anna Leese Guidi, Madeleine Pierard, rising opera star Benson Wilson and operatic tenor, Simon O’Neill (ONZM).

Read the Stuff article

New Zealand Secondary Students Choir farewell concert in Auckland

Sat 7 July, 7.30pm at Michael Park School, Ellerslie, Auckland.
Adults: $25, seniors/NZCF: $20, students: $10 with ID, children 12 and under: FREE
Tickets online: www.nzsschoir.com/events/farewell-concert-auckland or on the door

After ten years leading this internationally celebrated choir, Andrew is leaving for new adventures at the conclusion of the 2017-2018 choir cycle.

Andrew’s final performance with the choir will be at the Big Sing Finale, 1 September in Wellington.Andrew has led the choir on international tours to Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa. At the 2010 International Choral Kathaumixw, the choir received ‘The People’s Choice Award’ and first place in the adult mixed choir competition. NZSSC returned to the Kathaumixw in 2016 as the invited Guest Choir, and Andrew led one of the juries. Andrew has adjudicated and run choral clinics in New Zealand and internationally, and is an advisor for the New Zealand Choral Federation and the International Choral Kathaumixw.

Hugely respected by his students and colleagues, Andrew has recently completed his PhD, focused on creating his own system to teach choirs to more reliably and consistently sing in tune. Listen to an interview with Andrew discussing this research with Kim Hill on RNZ.

Nearing the end of their two-year membership, the 55 members of the current 2017-18 choir, all aged between 14 and 19, is about to embark on a tour to Asia. It’s the culmination of hundreds of hours of rehearsals and performances under Andrew’s tutelage. In Hong Kong, NZSSC will perform with school choirs and take part in the Belt and Road World Choir Festival as Resident Choir. In Shanghai, the choir joins the Vienna Boys Choir Shanghai Choir for a shared concert. They’ll perform for the New Zealand Consul General in both cities.

Before the choir departs New Zealand on Sunday, they’ll present a farewell concert in Auckland tomorrow  Saturday 7 July, tickets here: www.nzsschoir.com/events/farewell-concert-auckland

We all wish Andrew well in his next endeavors and celebrates the amazing level of choral singing that he has achieved with NZSSC over the past ten years.

Applications for the role of Artistic Director  open next week.

Listen to a Radio NZ interview of Andrew speaking with Kim Hill.

Rachel Healy, PUBLICIST, T: 0275277732, E: rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz 

Winner of the 2016 Lexus Song Quest, Benson was once just a boy from Havelock North, infamous in NZSSC for a particularly bad hair day.

We fired him five quick questions …1. Tell us about the time you …

Dyed my hair on tour? Apparently this story has been told every year as ‘what not to do on tour’! Here’s the official version. In my second cycle of NZSSC, we went on tour to Kathaumixw in Canada. Shortly after arriving in Powell River, my buddy Kaluani and I decided to dye our hair blonde. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out blonde, it went ginger. Kaluni was told to dye his back to black, but I kept the ginger! So if you see any videos or photos of the choir with a ginger Samoan, yeap that was me …

2. What made you audition for NZSSC way back in 2006?

An alumnus of the choir, Tamsyn Miller, heard me sing at school and organised for me to attend the audition in Auckland.

3. What did NZSSC give you?

NZSSC introduced me to the universal power of music and made me realise that I am blessed to be able to offer this gift to the world.

It also gave me a taste of what it’s like to make music at a high level, and the effect good, honest music-making can have on one’s soul. Not only did music bring 55 high school students from all different backgrounds together, I witnessed music bringing audience members to tears, making them laugh or roar with applause as we finished our haka.

4. Any tips for our current members, that are not to do with hair?

Be humble, work hard, play hard. Be a good colleague!

No matter how far you go in life, never be too big to acknowledge those who have helped you along the way and never forget where you come from.

5. How did three opera singers come to be performing in Mangere this weekend?

To help support my studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I’m part of a very special concert in Auckland this weekend, all details are here.  The event will also feature two other NZSSC alumni, Isabella Moore, winner of the Lexus Song Quest in 2014, and Thomas Atkins, currently a young artist at the Royal Opera House in the UK. You can get your tickets now.

Highlights of my first year in London have included roles in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and the Act I quartet of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Coaching sessions with Lada Valesova were invaluable to me. In December last year, I successfully auditioned for the Samling Artist Programme, which pairs talented young singers and piano accompanists at the start of their careers with world-class professionals for a week of intensive training and masterclasses.

I am in awe of the venues I have been blessed to perform in and the colleagues that I have met along this crazy journey towards becoming an opera singer. I feel like London is a city that just continuously gives.

“I am thrilled to be working with the prestigious NZSSC choir. I now can say that I have made the ultimate trifecta in NZ choral music. I have been involved in all three of the national choirs of New Zealand. As a member of the New Zealand Youth Choir for 6 years and Voices NZ Chamber Choir for 7 years, I am now very proud to be directing this young, vibrant, talented choir.” says Susan.

A well-known Soprano and choral conductor in her hometown Christchurch, Susan is the second female Music Director in the 32-year history of the choir.

Susan’s professional career began in 1986 with Canterbury Opera, singing the role of a Genie in Mozart’s Magic Flute. She has since performed in many productions as a chorus member, cover and in main roles. After completing a Bachelor of Arts at Canterbury University, she went on to achieve a Diploma of Teaching at Christchurch College of Education and a Diploma and Bachelor of Music in Voice at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. She is currently an Itinerant Teacher of Music with the Forte Unit in Christchurch, working at Burnside High School where she teaches voice and conducts three choirs. Susan was Music Director of the Jubilate Singers and in 2017 took on the position of Music Director of the University of Canterbury Chamber Choir – Consortia.

“Sue is an inspiring musician, singer and conductor. She embodies many of our values and underpins a pathway for choral singers in this country,” says Linda Webb, former chair of the NZSSC Trust and now trustee of Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand. ”NZSSC has just merged with Choirs Aotearoa and all three national choirs are managed by the same team; Sue has already been part of the extended team for several decades and now will hold a key role in our artistic team.”

NZSSC is a nationally auditioned choir of13-18 year old singers. Around 55 young singers join the choir for a two-year cycle, which usually culminates in an international tour. Founded in 1986 NZSSC has won numerous awards at competitions including four first places at Kathaumixw, Canada, the title “The World’s Choir” at the Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Festival and a Gold Award at the World Choir Games in Xiamen, China.

The 2019-20 NZSSC will embark on its first full-length training course in April in Wellington with Susan Densem at the helm. A South Island tour is planned for October taking NZSSC to Densem’s hometown Christchurch.

END

For further information and interview requests, please contact Arne Herrmann, ceo@choirsnz.co.nz

New Zealand Secondary Students Choir (NZSSC), the prestigious national choir for 14-18 year olds, is joining Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand, the arts trust that promotes vocal excellence and already governs the other two national choirs,  NZ Youth Choir (NZYC), our finest singers 18-25, and Voices New Zealand, the premier choir for adults. The three choirs will work together during the New Zealand Choral Academy at Auckland Anniversary weekend, marking a new era for choral music in this country.

Listen here to an interview on RNZ with Choirs Aotearoa CE, Arne Hermann and NZSSC Vice-Patron, Simon O’Neill.

“NZSSC, in particular, will benefit from the merger by having access to the expertise and shared resources that Choirs Aotearoa already provides its other two national choirs,” says Linda Webb MNZM, Chair of the NZSSC Trust Board, which will now merge into the Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust Board.

“This is great news for our singers and audiences,” says Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust Board Chair, Andrea Gray, “The merger will create a stronger, clearer pathway for New Zealand’s best singers, from teen to adulthood. We’ll be better serving our sector and communities—achieving excellence across all age groups.”

A unified organisation opens up new conversations with funders and sponsors. Outreach programmes will also be extended—incorporating schools across all levels. While the merger will see more collaboration and growth, each choir will still retain its own identity and artistic freedom.

The New Zealand Choral Academy will offer aspiring singers from across the country the chance to work alongside the three choirs for a weekend of fun and inspiring workshops and performances. Participants will be separated into age groups that align with each choir, and get to sit-in or work alongside them. They’ll experience the highest level of tuition and gain an understanding of the journey of a choral singer in New Zealand. The Academy is open to singers across the country, anyone can join in. Register here.

Joining the directors and artistic staff of the three national choirs as academy tutor is acclaimed conductor and composer Tecwyn Evans, who sang in both NZSSC and Youth Choir. Now based in Sweden with his wife, soprano Susanna Andersson, Tecwyn will be leading the group mirroring Voices. Robert Wiremu was in all three national choirs and is a former director of NZSSC. He’ll be involved with the NZSSC group. Youth Choir will be working with conductor and NZYC Deputy Music Director Michael Stewart.

New Zealand Choral Academy Tutors

Karen Grylls – Artistic Director, Voices New Zealand

David Squire – Music Director, New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC)

Brent Stewart – Assistant Director & Accompanist, NZSSC

Rachel Alexander – Assistant Director & Vocal Consultant, NZSSC

Michael Steward – Deputy Music Director, NZYC,

Morag Atchison – Vocal Consultant, NZYC

Catrin Johnsson – Vocal Consultant, VOICES New Zealand

Robert Wiremu – Academy Tutor, NZSSC stream

Tecwyn Evans – Academy Tutor, Voices NZ stream and conducting

New Zealand Choral Academy
25-28 January 2019, Auckland Diocesan School, www.choirs.nz/academy

Media enquiries, contact: Rachel Healy, Publicist. T: 0275277732, E: rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz

16 year old Susan was …

Vivacious, happy and fun-loving.  I was very close to my family and friends. I liked to be involved in as many extra-curricular activities as possible.

I sang in the school choir, played violin in the orchestra, clarinet in the concert band, tenor sax in the Big Band. I performed in musical theatre productions with my family, was in the school dance club.   I was wicket keeper for the Burnside High 1^{st XI} Girls cricket team, played hockey and loved skiing.

Sue today …

I don’t play in instrumental ensembles, I still do lots of singing, as a soloist and in Voices New Zealand. As a mother of a 13 and 9 year old, I am busy with my family when not working (teaching and conducting, performing). I still love to have fun!

First choir

I sang in my primary school choir and successfully auditioned for the junior special choir of the Christchurch Primary School’s Music Festival. I was nine.

At primary school I also wanted to be a ballerina.

I loved singing, playing instruments, dancing and being on stage so I always knew music would play a big part in my life. As a teenager, I really enjoyed with working children. I decided at about 14 or 15 that I wanted to be a teacher … and here I am.

Special teacher

My first voice teacher, Jean Cumming at Burnside High (former NZSSC accompanist), taught me for five years. When she was ready to retire (many years later) she approached me and suggested I might apply for her job as an itinerant voice teacher and choral conductor. She left enormous boots to fill.

Rehearsal weekend with Burnside High School Senior Chorale

A music degree

I started teaching piano at school then clarinet and violin at university, I did a BA majoring in Music. When I graduated, I went on the National Youth Choir tour to Europe, touring for nearly eight weeks! My brothers were also in the Youth Choir with me. I stayed on to live in London after the tour and did lots of travel.

The following year I started my diploma of teaching at Christchurch Teachers College. I knew I wanted to be secondary teacher but I also loved working with younger students so started with primary training, and became a classroom teacher and music specialist.

After three years, I decided to give singing a go full-time.

Off to train in Australia

I took a year off teaching to study full-time  at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane. I quickly realised I wanted to do more than a year. In my second year I finished a Bachelor of Music in Voice and decided to resign from my teaching job to do post graduate study.

I was also working for Opera Queensland. Half way through my post grad voice year I successfully auditioned for the Opera Company and the Queensland Arts Council touring production to take opera into primary schools.

It was the perfect job for me, I was paid to sing and work with children at the same time. I travelled around Queensland introducing children to the wonders of Opera through a production called Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing.

Balancing teaching and opera

On my return home, I balanced primary teaching, singing opera and performing as a soloist with choirs and orchestras as well as singing with Voices NZ.

I conducted primary school choirs, orchestras and festivals until my mentor, Jean, asked me to apply for the job I have now at Burnside High.  It was a huge step to go from primary music teaching to the secondary school environment.

I had been working with choirs singing in two to three parts and was suddenly conducting Bel Canto in eight parts – seriously scary! It was the best move I ever made and I love being an itinerant teacher of voice and choral conducting.

Performance nerves

I get a little nervous before I perform and conduct. Mostly it is the butterflies you get before the concert begins. Once I get on stage and start singing or conducting the nerves all melt away and I just live in the moment and enjoy myself.

If I am well prepared, I try to remind myself that the nerves are really for excitement and I try to ignore them BUT if I go to a performance unprepared then I pay for it, those nerves do not go away. Those nerves are scary.

Be prepared! It’s a mantra to live by if you want to enjoy your performances.

Career highlights

As a soloist, performing concerts with Sir David Willcocks was a highlight.  As a chorister, singing in both the NZ Youth Choir and Voices NZ are highlights. Performing in the National Youth Choir in 1990 at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was pretty awesome. In 2016, I had the opportunity to sing with Dame Kiri again with Voices NZ.

As a conductor, winning four platinum awards at the Big Sing Finale was very exciting but I think working as the Music Director for a national choir will bring further career highlights. Taking NZSSC on an international tour next year will be very special. Watch this space!

What do you bring to NZSSC?

I am looking forward to working with the best young choral singers in the country to create beautiful expressive performances.

Singing is such an all-encompassing and emotional experience and the relationships we develop and the skills we learn in a national choir are ones we will treasure forever. I am so happy to be part of facilitating that!

Big Sing, regional performance Burnside Senior Chorale 2018

How do you control all those teenagers?

Having fun is the way to approach rehearsals.  When we enjoy ourselves we learn easily.

After fourteen years conducting and teaching teenagers, I have a wealth of experience. I love my job and I look forward to each rehearsal I run. My students inspire and energise me.

As a singer and voice teacher I know the voice, the vocal challenges and limitations. I train my choirs from the perspective of a singer.

What else do you get up to in Christchurch?

I have been the conductor of the Jubilate Singers, an adult Chamber Choir, for three years and Music Director of the University of Canterbury Chamber Choir, Consortia, for two.

At Burnside High I teach group vocal tuition and conduct Aurora Voices, our auditioned treble junior choir, Bel Canto, our senior auditioned girls’ choir and Senior Chorale, our auditioned senior mixed voice choir.

Last year Bel Canto performed as part of the 125^th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage with the Prime Minister as the featured speaker. This year we’re performing with Julia Deans during the Christchurch Arts Festival.

Favourite music?

There are so many composers I like. I love Handel Opera.

Ēriks Ešenvalds is one of my favourite choral composers, I was very lucky to meet him when I went to Barcelona to the World Choral Symposium.

I am a Queen fan. I loved Bohemian Rhapsody.

Craving some …

Chocolate. Especially dark chocolate and Lindt Balls.

Dinner with …

Dame Maggie Smith, Renee Fleming, Colin Firth, Barack Obama. We would have a seafood platter, Filet Mignon, Argentinian style with colourful veggies, and a decadent cheesecake with cheese and crackers to follow.

Can anyone learn to sing?

Absolutely, but the younger you start the easier it is. In saying that, the voice is an instrument that can be started later in life and still have the potential to be stunning.  It is the aural development that should be ideally started at a young age.

Sue conducting the North West Festival massed choirs at Burnside High 2018

Why are choirs life-changing?

It’s  a combination of the relationships you develop and the intense musical experiences you share together.  Singing in a choir brings joy to all involved, both choir members and audience.  Choral singing is good for your health!

Advice to teenage self …

Treasure the friendships you made as a teenager and try to keep in contact with them as you grow older.