About ChoirsNZ
"This is a story of vision and commitment in which eight themes can be traced. These themes are: high quality musical leadership, a culture of high sacrifice and high reward, challenging repertoire, good communication within all levels of the choir, improving musicianship, and the loyalty of audiences and sponsors." - Choir of the World: Simon Tipping published by Dunmore Press 2002
Under the artistic leadership of
2026 – current Rowan Johnston (Music Director – NZ Youth Choir)
2019 – current Susan Densem (Music Director – NZ Secondary Students’ Choir)
2011 – 2025 David Squire (Music Director – NZ Youth Choir)
1989 – 2025 Dr Karen Grylls (Artistic Director, Music Director - Voices NZ)
1983 – 1988 Prof. Peter Godfrey (Music Director)
1979 – 1984 Prof. Peter Godfrey (Guest Conductor)
1982 – 1987 David Wood (Assistant Music Director)
1979 – 1982 Dr Guy Jansen (Music Director)
Under the management of:
2016 - current Arne Herrmann
2010 - 2016 Roger Lloyd
2008 - 2010 Barbara George
2002 - 2007 Jenny Jamieson
2001 - 2002 Lucy Tod
2001 - 2001 Mark da Vanzo
1992 - 2001 Jacqui Simpson
1989 - 1992 Neil Henderson
1985 - 1988 Paddy Nash
1979 - 1984 Colin Brown
Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust’s purpose is for New Zealanders to take pride in their national choirs and the joy, learning, identity, community, and careers they provide.
Our mission is to develop exceptional choral craft and performances in our national choirs. Working in a holistic way, we grow and invest in generations of excellent, confident, and aspirational musicians.
To achieve this we sustain and promote three complementary but distinct choirs; an internationally renowned professional choir – VOICES New Zealand, a youth choir, the New Zealand Youth Choir, and NZSSC for high school-aged singers. In a new initiative to broaden the engagement for young singers, the Aotearoa Academy Choir was formed in 2023. These three choirs inspire and develop New Zealand’s extraordinary young talent.
Choirs Aotearoa also runs an Outreach and Engagement programme which includes conductor training, composer mentoring, an annual composition competition Compose Aotearoa!, a Pasifika arts management internship, workshops and masterclasses in schools and with community choirs.
Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust thanks the generous corporate sponsorship over the years from:
Infratil http://www.infratil.com/ (NZYC Principal Sponsor) 2012 -
Tower Group 2000 – 2008
QE11 Arts Council renamed Creative New Zealand
Works Consultancy 1992 – 1996
Department of Education
Electricorp 1989 – 1992
BP (New Zealand) 1987 – 1989
National Bank 1979 - 1986
