2026 Role

Expressions of Interest are due by midnight on 9 February 2026

Purpose

With this key leadership training role, Choirs Aotearoa offers a choral conductor position for ONE year. This role provides podium time across our national choirs over the year, and the opportunity to experience the various components of the profession. This is a one-year professional development initiative, intended to help develop a conducting career.

Here are the kinds of activities that can be included in this role:

• Conduct works as agreed with MDs during selected courses and tours for NZ Youth Choir, NZ Secondary Students’ Choir and Aotearoa Choral Academy between April and October (exact dates to be discussed with successful applicant)

• Observe Voices New Zealand in rehearsal

• Lead the Compose Aotearoa! composition reading workshop on the weekend of 21 & 22 November 2026 (location tbc)

• National choir vocal coach session mentoring

• Conducting mentoring sessions with an international conductor

• Interaction with other Aotearoa conducting mentoring programmes

• Attend Choirs Aotearoa Music Director meetings and undertake artistic administration to learn more about how professional choirs operate.

Profile

• You need to have previous choral conducting podium experience at a consistent level.

• You need to have leadership experience.

• You need to be willing to undertake becoming an ambassador for Choirs Aotearoa through professional leadership and upholding our Code of Conduct.

• You need to agree to provide a comprehensive reflection report of the year’s activities at the end of 2026.

• You need to have a desire and be motivated to develop your ability to conduct professional choirs, to gain a deeper understanding of programming, vocal training, repertoire and the wider operations of a professional arts organisation.

Remuneration

• A $5000 retainer will be provided to facilitate the travel and related expenses with undertaking this training position.

• Any Choirs Aotearoa public concerts and events that are conducted by the Assistant Conductor will be separately paid i.e. fees, per diems.

Eligibility

• You can be a current singer in Voices New Zealand and hold this position.

• You can be a current Music Director or artistic staff member of one of our choirs, as long as you are confident you can manage the combined workload.

• You can negotiate with us around projects you are available for.

Notes

• This is a one-year position, and as such does not lead to further Choirs Aotearoa work in 2027.

• The final list of activities and dates will be confirmed with the successful applicant.

How to Express Interest in this role

To express interest in this role, please send the following to jessica@choirsnz.co.nz

• your CV

• a covering letter explaining why you are interested in this role

• a video link to you conducting a rehearsal and performance – this could be just an excerpt. The video needs to show you clearly and have good audio.

You can also reach out to Jessica to ask any questions or talk further about this opportunity.

 

Expressions of Interest are due by midnight on 9 February 2026