New Zealand Youth Choir

The New Zealand Youth Choir is a mixed choir consisting of around 50 singers, auditioned nationally every 2-3 years from around New Zealand. The choir accepts members aged between 18 and 24 at the time of audition, and places may be offered for one, two or three years.

The choir was formed in 1979[1] by Guy Jansen and has subsequently been conducted by Professor Peter Godfrey (1980 to 1988), Dr Karen Grylls (1989 to 2010) and David Squire (since 2011). As at February 2015, Dr Grylls is an associate professor and head of choral studies at the University of Auckland. The choir is governed by the Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust (which also governs Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and the NZYC Alumni Choir). The Chief Executive of the Trust is Roger Lloyd, who has held this position since late 2010.

International Tours and Awards

The choir has achieved considerable success both within New Zealand and internationally, including winning the ‘Let the Peoples Sing’ competition in 1992, the ‘Choir of the World’ title at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 1999, and the ‘Grand Prix Slovakia’ in the same year.[2]

In 2010 the choir toured to Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai (where it performed as part of Expo 2010), Brisbane, Canberra, and Sydney. The final concert for the tour was broadcast live on ABC Classic FM and Radio New Zealand Concert.

At the end of 2013 the choir toured to Los Angeles (where it participated in a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem at the Walt Disney Concert Hall), Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York and Washington DC.

Alumni

Notable former members of the choir include: conductor Tecwyn Evans, soprano Anna Leese, bass baritone Jonathan Lemalu, tenor Simon O'Neill, soprano Madeleine Pierard, baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, bass Martin Snell, all three members of Sol3 Mio, baritone in the King's Singers Chris Bruerton, journalist Hilary Barry, and composers David Hamilton, Anthony Ritchie and Glenda Keam.[3]

Discography[4]

Album title Year released Conductor Choir performing as Link to track listing and audio sample
National Youth Choir of New Zealand in Concert 1981 Guy Jansen and David Wilcocks National Youth Choir of New Zealand
National Youth Choir of New Zealand on Tour 1983 Peter Godfrey National Youth Choir of New Zealand
Peter Godfrey conducts the National Youth Choir of New Zealand 1984 Peter Godfrey National Youth Choir of New Zealand
New Zealand Youth Sings to the World 1987 Peter Godfrey National Youth Choir of New Zealand
Te Roopu Rangatahi Waiata o Aotearoa 1992 Karen Grylls New Zealand National Youth Choir
Winds that Whisper 1998 Karen Grylls Tower New Zealand Youth Choir http://www.choirsnz.co.nz/cd/winds-that-whisper
Choir of the World: Live from Langlollen and London 1999 Karen Grylls Tower New Zealand Youth Choir
Gaude 2004 Karen Grylls Tower New Zealand Youth Choir http://www.choirsnz.co.nz/gaude
Deep River 2013 David Squire New Zealand Youth Choir

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/creative-life/7/10
  2. ↑ http://www.choirsnz.co.nz/youth/about
  3. ↑ http://www.thearts.co.nz/new_zealand_youth_choir.php
  4. ↑ http://www.natlib.govt.nz/

External links


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