Maaike lives in Wellington.
Michael is from Wellington and currently lives in Auckland.
He is a school teacher.
When he’s not singing, Matthew spends his time finishing his Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Auckland. Matthew enjoys singing in many music groups, from choirs to small ensembles with friends and treasures his time in NZYC, as it provides a great excuse to spend time with his favourite people.
Helen grew up in Hamilton singing in choirs, while obtaining an ATCL in piano and a Bachelor of Management Studies, before moving to Auckland as an accountant.
In 1991 she joined Viva Voce and continues to enjoy singing with this group. Highlights in recent years include selection for the NZCF Tallis choir project in 2013 and as a soloist for a combined-choir Elijah in 2016. Helen was National Accountant for the New Zealand Choral Federation during the first four years of its revamped governance structure.
Jo is from Nelson and currently lives in Wellington.
Benett is from Auckland.
He attended Westlake Boys’ High School and is currently studying at the University of Auckland.
Benett plays the clarinet and violin.
Growing up in the suburbs of South Auckland, Keani began singing at a very young age, taking part in many cultural singing customs and admiring the voices of role models in her family and community. Keani’s cultural background has played an important part in her musical upbringing. Being of Cook Island descent, her cultural views and passion around Pasifika music has paved the start of her musical journey. Keani is now a graduate of the University of Auckland with her Bachelor of Music (Hons) majoring in Classical voice and minoring in Conducting. Keani is a practicing musician, currently singing with the Auckland Chamber Choir, New Zealand Youth Choir and NZ Opera Chorus as well as being an alumni of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir and Auckland Youth Choir. When Keani is not singing herself, she is working as a singing teacher, choral director, and vocal coach for various schools and community choirs around Auckland.
Thomas is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music conjoint majoring in Classical Trumpet and History. He began singing during primary school and took part in the auditioned choirs during primary and secondary school. In early 2017 he was selected for the 2017-19 cycle of NZYC, including the end-of-cycle cruise tour around the Pacific in 2019. Thomas currently lives in Auckland. He has a major passion for all things music and enjoys everything historical. He also loves to compete in pub quizzes and trivia!
Nicolas is currently pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Canterbury. An active member of the Christchurch music scene, Nicolas is regularly involved with award-winning groups across choral, barbershop, opera, and contemporary a cappella genres. Nicolas is the current NZYC board representative to Choirs Aotearoa, the Manager of Quantum Acoustics chorus, and the treasurer of the Christchurch Youth Choir. In his free moments, Nicolas enjoys the storytelling of his regular Dungeons & Dragons game.
Kirsty is a music student at the Univeristy of Waikato in Hamilton.
She attended St Peter’s School in Cambridge where she started to learn the flute and singing. Kirsty was a member of the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir 2013-2014. She spent a gap year in Zimbabwe and is now back in the Waikato to study music.
Kirsty joind NZYC in 2017.
