MENTORING OUR FUTURE STARS
CANZ ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
SARAH MCNABB - 2026
Sarah has a a Bachelor of Choral Music Education from Butler University (Hons) and a Master of Music from The University of Auckland. After living and teaching English in the Kingdom of Tonga, Sarah fell in love with the South Pacific and moved to NZ in 2009. Her music teaching career began at Waiheke High School, where she established the school’s first choral programme.
Sarah now leads a thriving choral programme at Macleans College, overseeing five choirs and more than 400 students. Alongside her choral work and role as head of curriculum music, she has directed community choirs, including working as part of the directorship team at All Together Now.
Sarah has been a passionate choral singer since the age of seven when she joined Essex Children’s Choir. Since then, she has sung with show choirs, university chamber and madrigal choirs, and was part of MUSE: Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir. In NZ, Sarah has sung with Sister Shout on Waiheke Island and Auckland Chamber Choir. Sarah currently sings with Luminata Voices.
Find out more about Sarah and her new position here: 'Beyond excited!' Sarah McNabb announced as new Assistant Conductor for Choirs Aotearoa
PAST ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS
Fiona Wilson - 2024
Jono Palmer - 2025
PASIFIKA CONDUCTING INTERN
DENZEL PANAMA - 2026
Denzel Panama is a singer, composer and conductor based in Tāmaki Makaurau. He completed a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Classical Performance and Choral Conducting at the University of Auckland, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Te Oti Rakena.
As a performer, Denzel has sung with a range of leading ensembles including the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, the New Zealand Youth Choir, Voices New Zealand, the Graduate Choir, and the Auckland Chamber Choir. Alongside his performance work, he is a dedicated music educator, currently working as a Vocal Coach and Choir Director at St Cuthbert’s College. His teaching practice is grounded in building strong, inclusive environments that foster both musical excellence and a deep sense of belonging for young singers.
Denzel has been appointed as the 2026 Pasifika Conducting Intern with Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand, where he will work under the mentorship of Fiona Wilson and Jono Palmer. As part of this role, he will join the Choral Academy as an intern in July 2026.
Find out more about Denzel and his new position here: Choirs Aotearoa announces the 2026-27 conducting interns
Listen to Denzel's interview about his internship with Perlina Lau on RNZ Culture 101 here: Pasifika conductor says everyone should do choir
PAST PASIFIKA CONDUCTING INTERNS
Sam Uatahausi, Enyah Talamaivao - 2024 & 2025
Robbie Moa, Ane Filimoehala - 2025
MĀORI CONDUCTING INTERN
TAKEREI KOMENE - 2026-27
Takerei Komene (Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-a-Apanui) is a takatāpui conductor, singer, and composer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. They sing in the Auckland Chamber Choir, 8bit Vocal Ensemble, and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. Previously, they were a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir, and choir leader of the New Zealand Youth Choir.
Takerei is actively and regularly engaged as a choral conductor in secondary schools, having conducted choirs at Kristin School, St Paul’s College Ponsonby, Auckland Grammar School, Takapuna Grammar School, and currently Epsom Girls Grammar School and Westlake Girls High School. They developed the Lower Voices Choral Festival, which brings together lower-voice choirs from around Tāmaki Makaurau. The festival had a successful first outing in May of 2024, and is well on its way to become a fixture in the Aotearoa choral landscape.
As a composer, they have had the honour of writing works for many commissions for groups ranging from community choirs to ensembles at the professional level. In 2025, they were commissioned by the BBC Singers to write a work to be jointly performed by them and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, titled Ranginui, which was premiered in November of that year at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Their works have been performed in Australia, the US, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium, the UK, Hong Kong, and all across Aotearoa.
Find out more about Takerei and their new position here: Choirs Aotearoa announces the 2026-27 conducting interns
