As a singer, Robert was a member of all the national choirs – the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir (NZSSC), New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices NZ – and from 2007-08 was music director of NZSSC, leading the choir on tour to Brazil and Argentina. Robert served as Artistic Advisor at CANZ and was recently part of the Aotearoa Choral Academy’s artistic team and trustee on the CANZ board.
Robert inspired two decades of tertiary students through his teaching roles at the University of Auckland and guided thousands of secondary students with his work for The Big Sing choral competition. He served on the New Zealand Choral Federation Board (2018–2022), was Deputy Director of the New Zealand National Singing School, part of the artistic team for the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, Co-chair of SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music and a trustee of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.
As a composer and arranger, Robert’s works often featured voice and were strongly influenced by Te Ao Māori sounds and perspectives. Earlier this year, Robert’s full-length arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem – Reimagining Mozart – was performed by Voices NZ as part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts and last year to international critical acclaim in Hamburg and in London, where Voices NZ was joined by the BBC Singers. Other pieces arranged by Robert for CANZ ensembles include Tuirina Wehi’s ’Waerenga-ā-Hika’ for NZYC.
“Robert was a much loved and influential figure in the Aotearoa New Zealand choral scene, and we will all miss him very much. I will remember him as warm, thoughtful and possessing extraordinary musical talents,” says Richard Sorrenson, Chair of the CANZ Board of Trustees.
Karen Grylls (CNZM), CANZ Artistic Director Emerita and founder of Voices NZ, gave a tribute to Robert on RNZ Concert, 20 July 2026: “Robert was just brilliant,” she said, “For him, it was all about musical connection … between te ao Māori and the Western choral tradition. He would wish that we continue that journey – take risks and be ourselves. And that’s what I admired about Robert; he was prepared to be himself. Haere atu rā e te whetū tārake o te ao waiata tira, kua wehe atu ki a Pōhutukawa kia pīata iho mai i te uma o Ranginui (Farewell the stand alone star, the peerless star that has gone to Pōhutukawa (Matariki star) to become a shining star in the chest of Ranginui – Ataahua Papa)”.
Arne Herrmann, CANZ Chief Executive, says Robert’s music, teachings and philosophy will be his legacy, one which will be cherished for years to come, “Haere ra, Robert Wiremu, with deepest respect and gratitude from your fellow trustees from the CANZ board, our staff, artistic colleagues and singers. We will miss you”.
Image credit: Arie Hoeflak
As a singer, Robert was a member of all the national choirs – the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir (NZSSC), New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices NZ – and from 2007-08 was music director of NZSSC, leading the choir on tour to Brazil and Argentina. Robert served as Artistic Advisor at CANZ and was recently part of the Aotearoa Choral Academy’s artistic team and trustee on the CANZ board.
Robert inspired two decades of tertiary students through his teaching roles at the University of Auckland and guided thousands of secondary students with his work for The Big Sing choral competition. He served on the New Zealand Choral Federation Board (2018–2022), was Deputy Director of the New Zealand National Singing School, part of the artistic team for the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, Co-chair of SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music and a trustee of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.
As a composer and arranger, Robert’s works often featured voice and were strongly influenced by Te Ao Māori sounds and perspectives. Earlier this year, Robert’s full-length arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem – Reimagining Mozart – was performed by Voices NZ as part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts and last year to international critical acclaim in Hamburg and in London, where Voices NZ was joined by the BBC Singers. Other pieces arranged by Robert for CANZ ensembles include Tuirina Wehi’s ’Waerenga-ā-Hika’ for NZYC.
“Robert was a much loved and influential figure in the Aotearoa New Zealand choral scene, and we will all miss him very much. I will remember him as warm, thoughtful and possessing extraordinary musical talents,” says Richard Sorrenson, Chair of the CANZ Board of Trustees.
Karen Grylls (CNZM), CANZ Artistic Director Emerita and founder of Voices NZ, gave a tribute to Robert on RNZ Concert, 20 July 2026: “Robert was just brilliant,” she said, “For him, it was all about musical connection … between te ao Māori and the Western choral tradition. He would wish that we continue that journey – take risks and be ourselves. And that’s what I admired about Robert; he was prepared to be himself. Haere atu rā e te whetū tārake o te ao waiata tira, kua wehe atu ki a Pōhutukawa kia pīata iho mai i te uma o Ranginui (Farewell the stand alone star, the peerless star that has gone to Pōhutukawa (Matariki star) to become a shining star in the chest of Ranginui – Ataahua Papa)”.
Arne Herrmann, CANZ Chief Executive, says Robert’s music, teachings and philosophy will be his legacy, one which will be cherished for years to come, “Haere ra, Robert Wiremu, with deepest respect and gratitude from your fellow trustees from the CANZ board, our staff, artistic colleagues and singers. We will miss you”.
Image credit: Arie Hoeflak
As a singer, Robert was a member of all the national choirs – the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir (NZSSC), New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices NZ – and from 2007-08 was music director of NZSSC, leading the choir on tour to Brazil and Argentina. Robert served as Artistic Advisor at CANZ and was recently part of the Aotearoa Choral Academy’s artistic team and trustee on the CANZ board.
Robert inspired two decades of tertiary students through his teaching roles at the University of Auckland and guided thousands of secondary students with his work for The Big Sing choral competition. He served on the New Zealand Choral Federation Board (2018–2022), was Deputy Director of the New Zealand National Singing School, part of the artistic team for the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, Co-chair of SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music and a trustee of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.
As a composer and arranger, Robert’s works often featured voice and were strongly influenced by Te Ao Māori sounds and perspectives. Earlier this year, Robert’s full-length arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem – Reimagining Mozart – was performed by Voices NZ as part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts and last year to international critical acclaim in Hamburg and in London, where Voices NZ was joined by the BBC Singers. Other pieces arranged by Robert for CANZ ensembles include Tuirina Wehi’s ’Waerenga-ā-Hika’ for NZYC.
“Robert was a much loved and influential figure in the Aotearoa New Zealand choral scene, and we will all miss him very much. I will remember him as warm, thoughtful and possessing extraordinary musical talents,” says Richard Sorrenson, Chair of the CANZ Board of Trustees.
Karen Grylls (CNZM), CANZ Artistic Director Emerita and founder of Voices NZ, gave a tribute to Robert on RNZ Concert, 20 July 2026: “Robert was just brilliant,” she said, “For him, it was all about musical connection … between te ao Māori and the Western choral tradition. He would wish that we continue that journey – take risks and be ourselves. And that’s what I admired about Robert; he was prepared to be himself. Haere atu rā e te whetū tārake o te ao waiata tira, kua wehe atu ki a Pōhutukawa kia pīata iho mai i te uma o Ranginui (Farewell the stand alone star, the peerless star that has gone to Pōhutukawa (Matariki star) to become a shining star in the chest of Ranginui – Ataahua Papa)”.
Arne Herrmann, CANZ Chief Executive, says Robert’s music, teachings and philosophy will be his legacy, one which will be cherished for years to come, “Haere ra, Robert Wiremu, with deepest respect and gratitude from your fellow trustees from the CANZ board, our staff, artistic colleagues and singers. We will miss you”.
Image credit: Arie Hoeflak
As a singer, Robert was a member of all the national choirs – the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir (NZSSC), New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices NZ – and from 2007-08 was music director of NZSSC, leading the choir on tour to Brazil and Argentina. Robert served as Artistic Advisor at CANZ and was recently part of the Aotearoa Choral Academy’s artistic team and trustee on the CANZ board.
Robert inspired two decades of tertiary students through his teaching roles at the University of Auckland and guided thousands of secondary students with his work for The Big Sing choral competition. He served on the New Zealand Choral Federation Board (2018–2022), was Deputy Director of the New Zealand National Singing School, part of the artistic team for the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, Co-chair of SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music and a trustee of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.
As a composer and arranger, Robert’s works often featured voice and were strongly influenced by Te Ao Māori sounds and perspectives. Earlier this year, Robert’s full-length arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem – Reimagining Mozart – was performed by Voices NZ as part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts and last year to international critical acclaim in Hamburg and in London, where Voices NZ was joined by the BBC Singers. Other pieces arranged by Robert for CANZ ensembles include Tuirina Wehi’s ’Waerenga-ā-Hika’ for NZYC.
“Robert was a much loved and influential figure in the Aotearoa New Zealand choral scene, and we will all miss him very much. I will remember him as warm, thoughtful and possessing extraordinary musical talents,” says Richard Sorrenson, Chair of the CANZ Board of Trustees.
Karen Grylls (CNZM), CANZ Artistic Director Emerita and founder of Voices NZ, gave a tribute to Robert on RNZ Concert, 20 July 2026: “Robert was just brilliant,” she said, “For him, it was all about musical connection … between te ao Māori and the Western choral tradition. He would wish that we continue that journey – take risks and be ourselves. And that’s what I admired about Robert; he was prepared to be himself. Haere atu rā e te whetū tārake o te ao waiata tira, kua wehe atu ki a Pōhutukawa kia pīata iho mai i te uma o Ranginui (Farewell the stand alone star, the peerless star that has gone to Pōhutukawa (Matariki star) to become a shining star in the chest of Ranginui – Ataahua Papa)”.
Arne Herrmann, CANZ Chief Executive, says Robert’s music, teachings and philosophy will be his legacy, one which will be cherished for years to come, “Haere ra, Robert Wiremu, with deepest respect and gratitude from your fellow trustees from the CANZ board, our staff, artistic colleagues and singers. We will miss you”.
Image credit: Arie Hoeflak
Voices New Zealand, our premier national chamber choir, is welcoming esteemed Slovenian conductor Ana Erčulj to Aotearoa. Ana has conducted the world-renowned, Grammy award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Choir of the Slovenian Philharmonic and most recently the Honour Choir Tokyo. In New Zealand, she will conduct Voices in two performances of Eternal Light – Fauré Requiem, 26th June in Auckland and the 27th in Wellington. Ana is also bringing music from her homeland, introducing local audiences to works by Slovenian composers Andrej Makor, Aldo Kumar, Damijan Močnik and Lojze Lebič, paired with a newly commissioned New Zealand piece – the world premiere of “Awatea” featuring kupu (words) by Bianca Beard set to music by Rosa Elliott.
“I’m especially excited to be performing Gabriel Fauré’s masterpiece “Requiem”, the centrepiece of the New Zealand concerts,” says Ana Erčulj, “I’ve designed a programme around it, incorporating Slovenian composers and exploring the theme of light – particularly eternal light, which in Slovenian folk tradition is closely associated with the sun.”
“Ana brings a wealth of international experience, and her work with Voices will provide a significant contribution to our singers and our organisation,” says Jessica Kinney, Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand’s Manager Artistic Planning and Outreach, “I can’t wait to welcome her to Aotearoa”.
Ana says, “I’m travelling to New Zealand with both anticipation and deep respect for the work of Voices NZ founder Karen Grylls, whose many years of dedication have shaped the ensemble’s distinctive sound”. Following the Wellington and Auckland concerts, Ana will tour with the NZ Youth Choir, which last year was name Choir of the World.
Beyond classical music, Ana is committed to promoting contemporary music, especially Slovenian compositions; acting as an ambassador of Slovenian music and culture on international stages. She is the founder and artistic director of the vocal group Gallina, conductor of the vocal instrumental ensemble Musica Emonica and currently the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra “Vladimir Lovec” and Gorizia chamber choir
Eternal Light – Fauré Requiem. Voices NZ in concert, conducted by Ana Erčulj
26 June: 7pm, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
27 June: 7pm, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
More about Ana Erčulj
Last year alone, Ana Erčulj conducted the Athens State Orchestra, the orchestra of the Slovenian Philharmonic and worked with the Grammy Award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. She also led the Choir of the Slovenian Philharmonic in five concerts dedicated to the 70th anniversary of composer Aldo Kumar’s career.
Ana is also the founder and artistic director of the vocal group Gallina, conductor of the vocal instrumental ensemble Musica Emonica and currently the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra “Vladimir Lovec” and Gorizia chamber choir. Specialising in vocal-instrumental music, her passion lies in blending instruments and vocals across opera, musicals, vocal instrumental works and concert repertoires. Beyond classical masterpieces, she is committed to promoting contemporary music, especially Slovenian compositions, acting as an ambassador of Slovenian music and culture on international stages.
In 2022, Ana completed her studies in orchestral conducting at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana under the mentorship of Prof. Marko Letonja and Prof. Simon Dvoršak, performing the overture to the opera The Magician (CM von Weber) and Pulcinella (I. Stravinsky) with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Earlier, she graduated in in Choral Conducting under prof. Sebastjan Vrhovnik at the Academy of Music Ljubljana (2017) and Musicology and Sociology of Culture from the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana (2013). Ana also broadened her studies internationally at the University of Utrecht and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, under the guidance of Prof. Johannes Prinz.
Ana has also conducted renowned orchestras, Cameristi della Scala, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Symphony Orchestra of the Royal Northern College of Music, Orchestra Padova e Veneto, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, RTV Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi.
Ana has worked extensively with Slovensko Komorno Glasbeno Gledališče and SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, premiering the opera Španska vas by Nana Forte and Jure Ivanušič and conducting the first performance of Rok Golob’s opera The Sound. Ana has served as assistant conductor for operas such as Ksenija and Carmina Burana at the same institution. Additionally, she has contributed as repetiteur and conductor of musicals at the City Theatre of Ljubljana and SNG Drama, with works including The Addams Family, Rent, Fiddler on the Roof, Turandot, and Orlando.
Ana has participated in numerous masterclasses worldwide with distinguished mentors like Risto Joost, Loukas Karytinos, Oleg Caetani, Uroš Lajovic, Martina Batič, Gary Graden and Ragnar Rasmussen and has collaborated with renowned vocal groups such as Singer Pur and Rajaton. Her artistic collaborations extend to composers Aldo Kumar, Andrea Basevi Gambarana, Nana Forte, Andrej Makor, Ambrož Čopi and others. She has also worked with musicians including Alexander Gadjiev, Laibach, Sara Briški Cirman (Raiven), Maja Horvat and Neža Torkar, as well as theatre directors like Stanislav Moša, Dragan Živadinov, Aleksander Popovski, Barbara Hieng Samobor and Eva Hribernik
Voices New Zealand, our premier national chamber choir, is welcoming esteemed Slovenian conductor Ana Erčulj to Aotearoa. Ana has conducted the world-renowned, Grammy award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Choir of the Slovenian Philharmonic and most recently the Honour Choir Tokyo. In New Zealand, she will conduct Voices in two performances of Eternal Light – Fauré Requiem, 26th June in Auckland and the 27th in Wellington. Ana is also bringing music from her homeland, introducing local audiences to works by Slovenian composers Andrej Makor, Aldo Kumar, Damijan Močnik and Lojze Lebič, paired with a newly commissioned New Zealand piece – the world premiere of “Awatea” featuring kupu (words) by Bianca Beard set to music by Rosa Elliott.
“I’m especially excited to be performing Gabriel Fauré’s masterpiece “Requiem”, the centrepiece of the New Zealand concerts,” says Ana Erčulj, “I’ve designed a programme around it, incorporating Slovenian composers and exploring the theme of light – particularly eternal light, which in Slovenian folk tradition is closely associated with the sun.”
“Ana brings a wealth of international experience, and her work with Voices will provide a significant contribution to our singers and our organisation,” says Jessica Kinney, Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand’s Manager Artistic Planning and Outreach, “I can’t wait to welcome her to Aotearoa”.
Ana says, “I’m travelling to New Zealand with both anticipation and deep respect for the work of Voices NZ founder Karen Grylls, whose many years of dedication have shaped the ensemble’s distinctive sound”. Following the Wellington and Auckland concerts, Ana will tour with the NZ Youth Choir, which last year was name Choir of the World.
Beyond classical music, Ana is committed to promoting contemporary music, especially Slovenian compositions; acting as an ambassador of Slovenian music and culture on international stages. She is the founder and artistic director of the vocal group Gallina, conductor of the vocal instrumental ensemble Musica Emonica and currently the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra “Vladimir Lovec” and Gorizia chamber choir
Eternal Light – Fauré Requiem. Voices NZ in concert, conducted by Ana Erčulj
26 June: 7pm, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
27 June: 7pm, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Tickets: voicesnz.com/whats-on For more information: Rachel Healy, PUBLICIST, 027 2706105, rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz
More about Ana Erčulj
Last year alone, Ana Erčulj conducted the Athens State Orchestra, the orchestra of the Slovenian Philharmonic and worked with the Grammy Award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. She also led the Choir of the Slovenian Philharmonic in five concerts dedicated to the 70th anniversary of composer Aldo Kumar’s career.
Ana is also the founder and artistic director of the vocal group Gallina, conductor of the vocal instrumental ensemble Musica Emonica and currently the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra “Vladimir Lovec” and Gorizia chamber choir. Specialising in vocal-instrumental music, her passion lies in blending instruments and vocals across opera, musicals, vocal instrumental works and concert repertoires. Beyond classical masterpieces, she is committed to promoting contemporary music, especially Slovenian compositions, acting as an ambassador of Slovenian music and culture on international stages.
In 2022, Ana completed her studies in orchestral conducting at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana under the mentorship of Prof. Marko Letonja and Prof. Simon Dvoršak, performing the overture to the opera The Magician (CM von Weber) and Pulcinella (I. Stravinsky) with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Earlier, she graduated in in Choral Conducting under prof. Sebastjan Vrhovnik at the Academy of Music Ljubljana (2017) and Musicology and Sociology of Culture from the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana (2013). Ana also broadened her studies internationally at the University of Utrecht and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, under the guidance of Prof. Johannes Prinz.
Ana has also conducted renowned orchestras, Cameristi della Scala, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Symphony Orchestra of the Royal Northern College of Music, Orchestra Padova e Veneto, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, RTV Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi.
Ana has worked extensively with Slovensko Komorno Glasbeno Gledališče and SNG Opera
and Ballet Ljubljana, premiering the opera Španska vas by Nana Forte and Jure Ivanušič and
conducting the first performance of Rok Golob’s opera The Sound. Ana has served as
assistant conductor for operas such as Ksenija and Carmina Burana at the same institution.
Additionally, she has contributed as repetiteur and conductor of musicals at the City Theatre
of Ljubljana and SNG Drama, with works including The Addams Family, Rent, Fiddler on
the Roof, Turandot, and Orlando.
Ana has participated in numerous masterclasses worldwide with distinguished mentors like
Risto Joost, Loukas Karytinos, Oleg Caetani, Uroš Lajovic, Martina Batič, Gary Graden and
Ragnar Rasmussen and has collaborated with renowned vocal groups such as Singer Pur and Rajaton. Her artistic collaborations extend to composers Aldo Kumar, Andrea Basevi Gambarana, Nana Forte, Andrej Makor, Ambrož Čopi and others. She has also worked with musicians including Alexander Gadjiev, Laibach, Sara Briški Cirman (Raiven), Maja Horvat and Neža Torkar, as well as theatre directors like Stanislav Moša, Dragan Živadinov, Aleksander Popovski, Barbara Hieng Samobor and Eva Hribernik
Denzel, who’s from the Niuean village of Tamakautoga, will take up the Pasifika conducting internship, a signal of the national choirs’ ongoing commitment to supporting Pacific communities – and an acknowledgement of the barriers that can hinder Pacific participation. Takerei has been selected for the inaugural Māori conducting internship, which likewise recognises the gaps in visibility and representation in the conducting landscape. Both internships offer emerging conductors learning and participation experiences through mentorship, observation and podium time and by providing opportunities to work with the national choirs’ artistic and outreach teams.
“These two roles create opportunities for professional growth and also support our singers to deepen their understanding of waiata, Te Reo Māori, Pacific repertoire and languages,” says Arne Herrmann, CANZ CE, “Creating professional pathways for choral conductors in Aotearoa is essential for the wellbeing of our choral sector and for the succession planning of our national choirs. It’s also important to amplify the artistic voices of tangata whenua and Pasifika people in our choral world.”
Takerei Komene and Denzel Panama are already part of the national choirs whānau and both are current members of the premier national chamber choir, Voices New Zealand. In fact, both Denzel and Takerei have been in all three national choirs, with Takerei joining the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir as a Dilworth College student, and Denzel while he was at Kings College. Later, they progressed into the New Zealand Youth Choir followed by Voices NZ. Last year, Takerei was commissioned by the BBC in London to compose a piece for Voices NZ to perform with the BBC Singers. Titled Ranginui, the waiata premiered last November at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and marked the first time the BBC Singers had commissioned a work in Te Reo Māori.
“It’s an honour to take up this new kaupapa,” says Takerei, “I hope that any ākonga Māori and rangatahi Māori who are curious about conducting can see this as something to aim towards. As a young conductor in high school, I was one of a very few Māori in front of a choir, and hopefully in the future I will be one of many.”
Alongside his performance work, Denzel is a music educator, currently working as a vocal coach and choir director at St Cuthbert’s College. In 2019, Denzel arranged and conducted the traditional Niuean pese Tau Fanau Vave Mai Kia Keriso for the New Zealand Youth Choir’s 40th anniversary tour, “I’m looking forward to developing my craft while continuing to champion Pasifika voices and involvement in the wider choral arts space as a Niuean conductor in Aotearoa.” says Denzel.
“It’s exciting to welcome Denzel to this role, which is now in its third year,” says CANZ Pasifika Navigator Will Kingi, “We hope this opportunity contributes to a stronger, more connected choral ecosystem that continues to elevate Pasifika visibility and leadership, ensuring our communities are not only present but actively shaping and engaging in the future of choral music in Aotearoa.”
More information on the 2026/27 conducting interns
TAKEREI KOMENE – Māori Conducting Intern
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 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 written 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.
Photo c. Ivan Zhang
DENZEL PANAMA – Pasifika Conducting Intern
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.
For more information: Rachel Healy, Publicist, T: 027 2706105, E: rachel@rachelhealy.co.nz
