In June the NZ Youth Choir heads to Europe for its 2016 European Landmark Tour. This includes performances in Singapore, the International Festival of Academic Choirs in the Czech Republic, Le Quesnoy in Northern France, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Oxford University Church, St Georges Chapel Windsor, St John’s Smith Square in Westminster, Ely Cathedral and St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge. Read more
Arne Herrmann
In February I received the resignation of Roger Lloyd, who has been the Chief Executive of Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust for approximately five years. Over this period Roger has endeavoured to raise the public profile and appreciation of our two national choirs – the New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir – through social media and in-house publications. Using his experience leading other major music organisations, he has introduced a professional arts culture into Choirs Aotearoa’s management and has striven to support the artistic vision of our organisation.
Some personal highlights for Roger include the Mozart Requiem performance by Voices NZ and Orchestra Wellington in Wellington Cathedral in June 2012 and the joint recital ‘Ata Riera’ by our choirs in the Auckland Arts Festival last year. As with the tour to North America in 2013, Roger has been the architect of the upcoming NZ Youth Choir European Tour in July this year. The Trustees greatly appreciate the contribution Roger has made over the last five years. He will leave the organisation in very good shape on 27 May.
We have been recruiting Roger’s replacement and I am delighted to announce that the Trust has appointed
. Arne has secured this position after a thorough and well contested process which attracted over 20 high calibre applications. We were generously supported in the recruitment process by JacksonStone & Partners. Arne will commence his Chief Executive position on 28 May. His first official appearance will be at the Youth Choir’s pre-tour “Farewell” concert on 29 May in Wellington.
Arne has worked extensively in arts administration with management and leadership roles at the Auckland Arts Festival, New Zealand Festival, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the National Jazz Festival, and consulting roles in business development and marketing with organisations such as New Zealand Opera, Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival and Indian Ink Theatre Company.
The Trustees are looking to Arne to lead Choirs Aotearoa into its next phase of development – supporting the growth in the reach and impact of the wonderful music that our artistic team and singers produce. His understanding of and passion for the performing arts will be a great asset for Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust.
Andrea Gray
On its first international concert stop over on its 2016 European Landmark Tour, the New Zealand Youth Choir’s concert at Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall has SOLD OUT.
The New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) won the hearts of audiences and the judges when achieving a clean sweep, winning all four categories they competed in, at the 24th annual International Festival of Academic Choirs in Pardubice, Czech Republic over the last four days. Then, this morning NZ time, they crowned their outstanding performance by winning the overall grand prize – the Grand Prix.
“The choir worked incredibly hard and had developed a culture of doing the job at the time,” says Music Director David Squire. “The highlight was when the choir delivered the most intense performance yet of Waerenga-a-Hika which had audiences and judges in tears.”
“They sang with meaning and heart, which blew the judges away. We knew we were delivering something really special from New Zealand and its culture to European audiences.”
The NZYC competed against 15 European choirs from Russia, Poland, Latvia, and Czech Republic.
The choir will now continue its international tour to Le Quesnoy, a small town in northern France, which was liberated by the NZ Division just four days before the end of WW1, to participate in their memorial services.
From there NZYC will travel to Paris to participate in High Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral singing an all-Kiwi programme and then to the UK to perform in Oxford, Windsor Castle and the prestigious St John’s Smith Square concert hall in Westminster.
List of Achievements:
Grand Prix – Overall winner
1st place (and gold standard) – Category: Mixed choirs
1st place (and gold standard) – Category: Art song of a particular era or style
1st place (and gold standard) – Category: Folklore of the choir’s nation
1st place (and gold standard) – Category: Spiritual, gospel, jazz and pop
(Watch NZYC performing a concert in the Czech Republic this week)
Michael Stewart is new DMD for NZYC
Dr Karen Grylls has been re-appointed as Artistic Director for Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir (VOICES) and The New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) while newcomer and Wellingtonian Michael Stewart was appointed as NZYC’s new Deputy Music Director.
Karen has been with Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ), the organisation managing these choirs, since 1989 when taking over as Music Director of NZYC. In 1998 she founded Voices and became the overall Artistic Director in 2011.
“There is still a lot I want to achieve, especially working with VOICES,” says Karen. “We have such a high calibre of singers in this ensemble and we are ready to take things to the next level. This exciting prospect was a big incentive to renew my role with the choirs.”
“Karen is such an asset for our choirs, an inspiration to the singers and a supremely competent choir leader, even on a global scale.” says CANZ CEO Arne Herrmann, “We love her energy, her sense of adventure and desire for innovation and collaborations. We are thrilled that Karen will continue her leadership role for another three years.”
The new member to the artistic team is 38 year old Michael Stewart. He is assuming the role of Deputy Music Director, which was held last by James Tibbles, a key figure in New Zealand’s Early Music scene. By his own admission Michael started his relationship with NZYC as ‘groupie’, when his then-girlfriend-now-wife Anna Sedcole was singing in the soprano section. After a short stint in the bass section of NZYC, Michael was the recipient of a Dame Malvina Major Arts Excellence Award and moved to Canada for a Master of Music degree majoring in organ performance. Back in Wellington he became Music Director of The Tudor Consort in 2007 and Organist and Director of Music at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul in 2011.
“Michael is an extraordinary find for us.“ says Arne Herrmann, “His experience working with choirs, his strong musical expertise and on top of that being such an outstanding organist and accompanist, makes Michael a wonderful addition to our artistic team, supporting our Music Director David Squire.”
“I am absolutely thrilled at being appointed to this position” ,says Michael. “I feel that my particular skill set, especially the ability to accompany and conduct, make me an ideal fit. I’m looking forward to making music with this outstanding choir, and developing my own skills through contact with the Choirs Aotearoa Artistic Team.”
Both contracts will commence in January 2017 with VOICES being on stage at the Auckland Arts Festival in March and the new NZYC coming together in Wellington for a week-long course in April and concerts on the Kapiti Coast, Featherston and ANZAC commemorations in the city.
Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Community Trust. The New Zealand Youth Choir is sponsored by Infratil.
New Zealand’s premier professional choir, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir is releasing its first ever concert series subscription offering four different concert programmes in five centres around the country this year.
LOVE VOICES is the first multi-concert package offered by VOICES and programmes feature inspiring New Zealand composers, the world premiere of a new commission by Victoria Kelly, delightful French music and well-known Baroque classics in a concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
The season opens with the immersive surround sound experience that is Jack Body’s Passio at Auckland Arts Festival on Sunday 19 March where the audience wanders freely around and through the performance area to fully absorb the resonances of musicians and singers.
Also in Auckland, VOICES joins the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in August for Baroque Voices, while The Unusual Silence in September commemorates war and features the Victoria Kelly commission. Salut Printemps welcomes spring and will tour four centres.
Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust chief executive Arne Herrmann says the 2017 season provides an opportunity to showcase the vocal excellence and versatility of this national choir.
“It’s been our dream for a long time to share this wonderful ensemble with more New Zealanders on a more regular basis.”
VOICES artistic director Karen Grylls is thrilled with the programme for 2017 saying it allows the choir to “flex its artistic muscle. It will challenge our singers to embrace the different choral sounds and textures from the Baroque to today. Performing works by our contemporary New Zealand composers, including a commissioned work from Victoria Kelly to commemorate the WWI centenary is a real privilege for us.”
VOICES performs live in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and beyond during 2017. Choral fans can also add New Zealand Youth Choir concerts to their subscription choice.
For more information about the 2017 programmes and LOVE VOICES click here.
Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Community Trust. The New Zealand Youth Choir’s Principal Sponsor is Infratil.
Three brothers write history in new New Zealand Youth Choir
For the first time in New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) history, three Auckland brothers – Benjamin (Tenor), Benedict (Bass) and Benett Tan (Tenor) – have all made it into the new NZYC.
Benjamin, 23, is doing a PhD in engineering at the University of Auckland. Benedict and Benett are 19-year old twins currently studying at different universities. While Benjamin and Benedict have sung in the last NZYC, it is Bennett’s first time with the award-winning national choir. Older brother Benjamin said they were all absolutely overjoyed to have been selected for the choir. “We grew up with a lot of support from Mum and Dad, and they always encouraged us to pursue our interests. By coincidence, we all enjoyed music! However, due to the age difference between me and the twins – of about 4 years – we haven’t had a lot of opportunity to be in the same groups.”
The last time they all sang together in the same choir was in 2010. Benjamin explains, “it was my last year of high school, and the twins’ first! So being able to sing together and travel with music is something we look forward to, even more so now that the twins are split up, with Benett studying in Auckland, and Benedict in Dunedin.”
Benjamin said their parents were quite proud, “especially because they really think that the experience NZYC provides is quite unique; it’s such a great opportunity to be able to pursue musical excellence but also gain so many other skills, like teamwork, communication, and learning about cultures. There’s a little bit of worry about the pressure on the wallet, but they’ve always believed that if we’re willing to commit, and if we’re really going to get something out of an experience, they’ll try their best to back us all the way.”
Benjamin can confirm that all three of them are excited about the music-making ahead. “It’s a real privilege singing with so much expertise in front of us – the choir has a world-class music team – and to share with and learn from those around us, and to do some repertoire that we just don’t get to do in our own centres.”
NZYC has been the springboard for some impressive singing careers for Jonathan Lemalu, Anna Leese, Madeleine Pierard, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, the Sol3Mio ensemble, but also provided ‘a life-changing experience’ for TV presenter Hilary Barry.
The present New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) was selected from auditions held nationwide in November 2016, and is extra-special because this cohort will mark the 40th anniversary of the New Zealand Youth Choir in 2019. Every three years, new auditions are held throughout the country to find around 50 of the best young singers between the ages of 18 and 25. Most are university students or working, so it’s a busy schedule, but the experiences are so worth it, especially the international tour at the end of the three-year term!
During the year, intensive workshops are held culminating in a concert or series of concerts that are toured around the country. In 2017, the New Zealand Youth Choir performs at venues in Kapiti Coast, Featherston, Wellington and on Waiheke Island.
The New Zealand Youth Choir has achieved considerable success since its formation in 1979. Performances in New Zealand and ten international tours including visits to the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, Singapore, Russia, the Republic of Korea and China have firmly established its reputation for consistency, energy and excellence. The Choir has won many prizes – during it’s 2016 European Landmark Tour, NZYC won the GRAND PRIX at the 2016 IFAS in the Czech Republic and the CHOIR OF THE WOLRD title in 1999 at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales. Music Director is the renowned choral conductor David Squire.
This new New Zealand Youth Choir can be seen and heard for the first time in Wellington on ANZAC weekend.
The New Zealand Youth Choir receives core funding from Creative New Zealand and New Zealand Community Trust, the principal sponsor is Infratil.
More information about the new NZYC members.
Ross Harris’s commemoration piece for World War 1 premiered at the Otago Festival of the Arts in 2014 and gained instant critical success. Requiem for the Fallen was subsequently performed at the New Zealand Festival in Wellington and the Auckland Arts Festival.
This work was described by reviewers as “Stunningly impressive and emotionally draining” and “… indeed a never-to-be-forgotten experience for all who attended”. For Karen ‘this is a New Zealand requiem, which honours lives lost and love shared; one that is etched deeply in my musical memory’.
Now you can relive this incredible experience – purchase the CD Requiem for the Fallen. Featuring Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, Horomona Horo and the New Zealand String Quartet.
RIP Peter Godfrey (1922-2017). Regarded as the godfather of choral music in New Zealand, Prof. Peter Godfrey passed away last night, but his legacy to choral music in NZ will live on. Principal Conductor (1979-1982) and then Musical Director (1983-1988) of the New Zealand Youth Choir, Peter established the musical foundations for our national choirs today. We will be eternally grateful …
A note from current Music Director, David Squire:
I met Prof in May 1985 during my first NZYC course in Christchurch, and he made an instant impression. He demanded the highest musical standards, but was still enamoured by the lighthearted moments in rehearsal, such as when Martin Snell put up his hand and asked if he could tell a joke. At the end of the course the singers were asked if they would like to stay behind for a choral conducting workshop, and I took advantage of this opportunity to have my first conducting lesson. When I got up to have a go, Prof described me as his “little meat chopper” because of the violent way I was beating time. However, he was encouraging and supportive, and really helped to set me on the path to conducting when I left school.
Whenever I met Prof over the ensuing years he was always keen to chat about how the choirs were going. Even when his mind was not as sharp as it had once been, he was still able to conduct some of his old favourites from memory, such as Finzi’s ‘My Spirit Sang All Day’ and the old NZYC standards ‘Kyrie’ and ‘Heilig’ by Mendelssohn.
Prof was integral to the development of our world-class New Zealand choral scene. He helped to foster the careers of many young conductors and singers, and was a champion of New Zealand composers. Those of us who had the privilege of working with him will treasure our memories of his musicianship, leadership and humanity. Arohanui, Prof.
