Hi! My name is Cameron McConchie. I am an Auckland-based twenty-two year-old composition student at the University of Auckland. I’m in the middle of my honours degree, which will (hopefully) be completed by the end of 2026. Amongst composition, I am also a choral director. I’ve been singing in choirs since I was five years old, but only began to pursue it as a career when I was in Year 12 at high school in 2020.

As of right now I am the director of Cantorum Chamber Choir in Ponsonby, Auckland, a community choir previously led by Anita Banbury that performs sacred repertoire from different musical eras. I am also the conductor-in-residence for the Auckland Youth Choir for 2026, under the mentorship of David Squire, where a select group of us will touring to Hobart for the Festival of Voices in July. As well as Anita and David mentoring me in my conducting, I have also received mentorship from Elise Bradley and Jono Palmer.

I have previously been in New Zealand Youth Choir in 2022, where I joined as a late addition before we toured to Australia, which included a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Other musical ventures include singing in St. Peters Basilica in 2018, being a member of the St. Assisi Singers in New Zealand movie Tinā, and singing with Voices New Zealand in 2025.

Outside of music, I am also a tutor of Maths and English at Numberworks’nWords…that’s pretty much about it! Thanks for reading!

Hi! My name is Cameron McConchie. I am an Auckland-based twenty-two year-old composition student at the University of Auckland. I’m in the middle of my honours degree, which will (hopefully) be completed by the end of 2026. Amongst composition, I am also a choral director. I’ve been singing in choirs since I was five years old, but only began to pursue it as a career when I was in Year 12 at high school in 2020.

As of right now I am the director of Cantorum Chamber Choir in Ponsonby, Auckland, a community choir previously led by Anita Banbury that performs sacred repertoire from different musical eras. I am also the conductor-in-residence for the Auckland Youth Choir for 2026, under the mentorship of David Squire, where a select group of us will touring to Hobart for the Festival of Voices in July. As well as Anita and David mentoring me in my conducting, I have also received mentorship from Elise Bradley and Jono Palmer.

I have previously been in New Zealand Youth Choir in 2022, where I joined as a late addition before we toured to Australia, which included a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Other musical ventures include singing in St. Peters Basilica in 2018, being a member of the St. Assisi Singers in New Zealand movie Tinā, and singing with Voices New Zealand in 2025.

Outside of music, I am also a tutor of Maths and English at Numberworks’nWords…that’s pretty much about it! Thanks for reading!

Kaitlyn Darroch is a soprano from Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. She is a first year student at the University of Auckland, studying a conjoint bachelor of music majoring in classical vocal performance, and a bachelor of arts majoring in psychology and media. She found her love of choir attending Takapuna Grammar school, as a member of both Leonessa and the TGS Chorale. She has a deep passion for the arts both in music and in musical theatre.

Kaitlyn Darroch is a soprano from Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. She is a first year student at the University of Auckland, studying a conjoint bachelor of music majoring in classical vocal performance, and a bachelor of arts majoring in psychology and media. She found her love of choir attending Takapuna Grammar school, as a member of both Leonessa and the TGS Chorale. She has a deep passion for the arts both in music and in musical theatre.

Tessa is a recent graduate of the University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, where she completed a BBioMedSc in Functional Human Biology. She is based in Dunedin, and currently sings with the Southern Youth Choir, Octagon Ensemble, and All Saints’ Church Choir. She is also Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, and enjoys being a committee member and occasional conductor for the Southern Youth Choir.

Tessa is a recent graduate of the University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, where she completed a BBioMedSc in Functional Human Biology. She is based in Dunedin, and currently sings with the Southern Youth Choir, Octagon Ensemble, and All Saints’ Church Choir. She is also Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, and enjoys being a committee member and occasional conductor for the Southern Youth Choir.

Hailing from the UK, Jessica moved to New Zealand for this new role with CANZ and brings extensive experience from across the choral arts management sector. Most recently working as Artist Manager at James Brown Management, Jessica spent several years leading operational management of The Tallis Scholars – spearheading the planning and execution of more than 300 high-profile performances across 25 countries for this world-class ensemble by collaborating with promoters, festivals and broadcasters throughout the globe to pilot the logistical and strategic delivery of the group’s international artistic work. Her wider JBM portfolio included supporting choral conductors Daniel Hyde and Nicholas Chalmers, and the GRAMMY-winning Attacca Quartet.

Alongside her work at JBM, Jessica took on a pivotal leadership role in the formation and growth of Cambridge University Schola Cantorum. Having played a central part in leading the international campaign to save St John’s Voices as it faced closure, Jessica went on to serve as Cambridge Schola’s first General Manager after its emergence from SJV following its disbandment. She was instrumental in guiding the choir through its transition and reconstitution, helping to re-establish the ensemble with a renewed artistic vision and organisational structure. Working closely with the Artistic Director, she contributed to defining the choir’s vision, mission and long-term strategic direction, and aided the facilitation of community engagement and outreach projects such as development opportunities with the BBC Singers and Sheffield’s Steel City Choristers.

Jessica also brings extensive experience as a professional choral singer, having held posts with the VOCES8 Scholars, Choirs of Clare & Trinity Colleges in Cambridge, St Martin-in-the-Fields in London and the Choir of Royal Holloway amongst others. Jessica has enjoyed singing on the freelance choral circuit across the UK and Europe for a number of years, also acting as choral fixer for a variety of projects including ‘Carols at the Royal Albert Hall’ and the Edington Music Festival.

She holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and Master of Music from Royal Holloway, University of London, and spent a year studying on international exchange at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and Te Kōkī – New Zealand School of Music.