At this epic staging of Jack Body’s PASSIO, audiences were invited to meander between orchestra, choir and soloists, creating a surround sound experience. Initially this generated amused and shy grins, at the end nearly everyone embarked on their own musical pilgrimage through the Town Hall stalls and when the concert finished the applause didn’t seem to end. Audiences left enthralled and engaged. A complete recording of the concert will be published by Radio New Zealand Concert and a video will be available through SOUNZ at a later stage.

Great concert snippets and critical commentary from RNZ Concert‘s review of PASSIO. The conversation continues….

LOVE VOICES is the first multi-concert package offered by VOICES and programmes feature inspiring New Zealand composers, the world premiere of a new commission by Victoria Kelly, delightful French music and well-known Baroque classics in a concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

The season opens with the immersive surround sound experience that is Jack Body’s Passio at Auckland Arts Festival on Sunday 19 March where the audience wanders freely around and through the performance area to fully absorb the resonances of musicians and singers.

Also in Auckland, VOICES joins the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in August for Baroque Voices, while The Unusual Silence in September commemorates war and features the Victoria Kelly commission. Salut Printemps welcomes spring and will tour four centres.

Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust chief executive Arne Herrmann says the 2017 season provides an opportunity to showcase the vocal excellence and versatility of this national choir.

“It’s been our dream for a long time to share this wonderful ensemble with more New Zealanders on a more regular basis.”

VOICES artistic director Karen Grylls is thrilled with the programme for 2017 saying it allows the choir to “flex its artistic muscle. It will challenge our singers to embrace the different choral sounds and textures from the Baroque to today. Performing works by our contemporary New Zealand composers, including a commissioned work from Victoria Kelly to commemorate the WWI centenary is a real privilege for us.”

VOICES performs live in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and beyond during 2017. Choral fans can also add New Zealand Youth Choir concerts to their subscription choice.

For more information about the 2017 programmes and LOVE VOICES click here.

Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Community Trust. The New Zealand Youth Choir’s Principal Sponsor is Infratil.

Karen has been with Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ), the organisation managing these choirs, since 1989 when taking over as Music Director of NZYC. In 1998 she founded Voices and became the overall Artistic Director in 2011.

“There is still a lot I want to achieve, especially working with VOICES,” says Karen. “We have such a high calibre of singers in this ensemble and we are ready to take things to the next level. This exciting prospect was a big incentive to renew my role with the choirs.”

“Karen is such an asset for our choirs, an inspiration to the singers and a supremely competent choir leader, even on a global scale.” says CANZ CEO Arne Herrmann, “We love her energy, her sense of adventure and desire for innovation and collaborations. We are thrilled that Karen will continue her leadership role for another three years.”

The new member to the artistic team is 38 year old Michael Stewart. He is assuming the role of Deputy Music Director, which was held last by James Tibbles, a key figure in New Zealand’s Early Music scene. By his own admission Michael started his relationship with NZYC as ‘groupie’, when his then-girlfriend-now-wife Anna Sedcole was singing in the soprano section. After a short stint in the bass section of NZYC, Michael was the recipient of a Dame Malvina Major Arts Excellence Award and moved to Canada for a Master of Music degree majoring in organ performance. Back in Wellington he became Music Director of The Tudor Consort in 2007 and Organist and Director of Music at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul in 2011.

“Michael is an extraordinary find for us.“ says Arne Herrmann, “His experience working with choirs, his strong musical expertise and on top of that being such an outstanding organist and accompanist, makes Michael a wonderful addition to our artistic team, supporting our Music Director David Squire.”

“I am absolutely thrilled at being appointed to this position” ,says Michael. “I feel that my particular skill set, especially the ability to accompany and conduct, make me an ideal fit. I’m looking forward to making music with this outstanding choir, and developing my own skills through contact with the Choirs Aotearoa Artistic Team.”

Both contracts will commence in January 2017 with VOICES being on stage at the Auckland Arts Festival in March and the new NZYC coming together in Wellington for a week-long course in April and concerts on the Kapiti Coast, Featherston and ANZAC commemorations in the city.

Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand receives major funding from Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Community Trust. The New Zealand Youth Choir is sponsored by Infratil.