Gary is a Business Professional with 30 plus year’s experience in the technology sector. He has worked for large multinational IT organisations and currently works for a nationwide technology provider as an Account Director.
As a parent to 4 grown children, he has been actively involved in a number of artistic, sporting and educational organisations including 5 years as a member of the Suzuki Music Auckland Committee and nearly ten years supporting various volunteer positions at Epsom Girls Grammar School.
Gary became a Trustee to the NZ Secondary Students Choir (NZSSC) in 2017 and has recently accepted a similar role on the Board of Trustees for the newly converged Choirs Aotearoa.
Amanda Barclay is a lawyer and public servant based in Wellington. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Music from the University of Otago, and a Masters in Law, (In House Practice) from the College of Law in Sydney. Amanda has been a member of all three national choirs; NZSSC, National Youth Choir and Voices NZ, as well as being a member of the New Zealand Opera Chorus and Wellington based Tudor Consort ensemble.
I have extensive experience in education that includes lecturing in pre-service teacher education, coordinating Professional Practice and the selection of teacher trainee intakes; teaching in a range of settings as a music specialist and classroom generalist in primary schools and the wider community.
Governance roles have included chairing Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa (MENZA), and the inaugural NZSM MMus Therapy post graduate programme external advisory board. Currently I am President and interim Chair for the Music Therapy New Zealand Council (MThNZ) and have recently been a member of the Registration Board. I am the national representative for MENZA on the International Society for Music Education (ISME) Council, and a member of the Advocacy working group.
My longstanding interest in supporting emerging talent includes young singers, and I have had the privilege of Chairing the NZSSC Trust Board for ten years. I am excited by the new opportunities that merging with CANZ brings, and look forward to working on the CANZ Board to further champion and expand the scope of the national choirs.
Blake is from Auckland’s North Shore. Before joining the New Zealand Youth Choir, he went to Westlake Boys’ High School, where he sang in “Voicemale” and “Choralation” choirs, which kick-started his love for choral music.
Along with NZYC, Blake also currently sings in the University of Auckland Chamber Choir, where he is studying a conjoint degree in Engineering and Music, majoring in composition. Blake also plays piano and guitar, and enjoys singing in smaller ensembles in his spare time.
Ella is a student at Auckland University studying for a Bachelor in Music and Commerce.
She is a current member of the New Zealand Youth Choir and Auckland Chamber Choir. Ella is working with her singing teacher Dr. Morag Atchison and enjoys singing under Dr Karen Grylls at ACC. Ella joined Voices NZ in early 2018.
Jack Timings joined Voices New Zealand in September of 2016. Jack currently also sings with the New Zealand Youth Choir, Auckland Chamber Choir, Stellar Singers and the St Patrick’s Vocal Ensemble.
Finishing his Engineering Degree specialising in Chemical & Materials Engineering, Jack now works as an Industrial Process Engineer when he has a break from singing in choirs.
He hopes to be able to continue incorporating both his singing and engineering into his life for many years to come.
Sponsored by
Warwick and Catherine Mitchell (2017-2019)
Benedict is from Auckland.
Benedict was in the 2016 NZ Youth Choir and has returned again for the 2017-19 choir cycle. He and his two brothers are all current members of NZYC.
Benedict attended Westlake Boys’ High School and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) Genetics and Psychology at Otago University.
