Riley is currently studying Graphic Design at Waikato Institute of Technology. Joining NZYC was a step up from being in the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir in 2021-2022 where they won the Llangollen Eisteddfod Children’s Choir of the World in 2022.
Riley found his passion in singing when he started high school at St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton in 2018. Riley made his mark by joining both the full school choir and the auditioned chamber choir from year 9. He also found a love for the stage participating in 3 of his schools annual productions — 2 as a lead. He played Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and the Lion in The Wizard of Oz. He is super excited to see what is to come with his choral journey, especially excited for the end of course tour in 2025.
Herbert Zielinski started singing aged 8 years as a founding member of Wellington
Young Voices, before joining Onslow College choirs. He was accepted into the 2021-
2022 NZSSC as the tenor section leader while under Linden Loader’s tuition. Herbert is an amateur pianist, and holds a certificate in choral conducting from NZCF’s Young
Conductor Training Programme. During Herbert’s gap year, he joined the Tudor
Consort, Wellington Youth Choir as the tenor section leader, and the WYC committee as a fundraiser. Currently, he is studying his third year of a BSc in Biotechnology at Victoria University of Wellington, alongside a Classical Performance minor in voice under Barbara Paterson. Herbert’s soloist programme is focused on early music, which is advanced by him singing with the Queen’s Closet specialist group.
Cameron (he/him) is a baritone, violinist, and PhD Candidate in Transportation Engineering based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. He is a member of multiple local groups including the Christchurch Youth Choir, Christchurch Symphonic Chorus, and CBS Orchestra. For the last three years he has performed annually in the Wednesday at One concert series featuring solo violin, his barbershop quartet The Canty Boys, and string quartet. He was part of the New Zealand Choral Federation’s Young Conductor Training programme, directed the choirs at College House from 2020 to 2024, and has conducted the City Mission Singers in their last two Carol Services. In 2023 and 2024 he was awarded a Tohu Kahurangi (Blues Award) by the University of Canterbury for his achievements in music.
William is a mechatronics engineering student at the University of Canterbury. His passion for music stems from a career as a boy soprano, singing solo on the soundtrack for ‘Orphans and Kingdoms’, as well as with the APO and RNZ Navy Band. William is also a French horn player, and a national award winning composer.
Roșie Auchinvole is a Soprano from Dunedin who has trained in classical voice for 11 years, has competed in Junior and Senior vocal competitions for that length, and has received various awards at both levels. In school she learnt under Judith Borick and in her current studies at the University of Otago she is taught by Dr Tessa Romano.
Rosie Auchinvole has participated in choral singing for many years, having been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Student Choir from 2019 – 2022 (acting as a choir leader in 2022), and she is a current member of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Her singing has given her many opportunities, such as being an RSA Scholar, performing with the Dunedin RSA Choir and participating in many local choral events, such as the Octagon Ensemble and the Southern Youth Choir.
