I value enormously the experiences of my National Youth Choir association, the friendships established over a long period which still hold today, although many are now spread beyond New Zealand

Pene with his brother Amitai Pati from Mangere, and their North Shore baritone cousin Moses Mackay, are SOL3 MIO, a combination of three powerful and moving operatic voices, with more than a dash of uncontainable Samoan humour.

North Shore baritone Moses Mackay together with Amitai and Pene Pati from Mangere are SOL3 MIO, a combination of three powerful and moving operatic voices, with more than a dash of uncontainable Samoan humour.

Amitai with his brother Pene Pati from Mangere, and their North Shore baritone cousin Moses Mackay, are SOL3 MIO, a combination of three powerful and moving operatic voices, with more than a dash of uncontainable Samoan humour.

Tecwyn studied composition and conducting at the University of Otago under Associate Professor Jack Speirs. A Fulbright Scholarship enabled him to continue his studies in the US under Brian Priestman and Simon Carrington. After four years as Chorus Master at Glyndebourne Festival Opera making his debut conducting on the Glyndebourne tour, Tecwyn was a finalist in the 2005 Leeds’ Conducting Competition. He has held positions at Grazer Oper and Danish National Opera and conducted for all the main arts organisations in New Zealand.

Simon O’Neill has established himself as one of the finest helden-tenors on the international stage. He has frequently performed with the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Berlin, Hamburg and Bayerische Staatsopern, Teatro alla Scala and the Bayreuth, Salzburg, Edinburgh and BBC Proms Festivals…

The choir for me has been very beneficial, not only for my musical and theoretical skills, but also my ability to listen, which for a solo singer is fairly important….You need a lot of skills linguistically, physically-even things like looking after the voice….which the National Youth Choir over the five years I was in it did very well

Anna graduated from the University of Otago in November 2003, with a first class honours degree in music. In 2006 she graduated from the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the Royal College of Music, London, and won the Queen Elizabeth Rosebowl, which was presented by HRH Prince Charles in 2007

See our feature on Clinton’s time with NZSSC and career development since then.

Natasha Te Rupe Wilson (Te Arawa, Ngā Puhi), soprano, has a Bachelor of Music, (Honours, first-class), majoring in classical vocal performance, from the University of Auckland and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Vocal Studies, from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Lyric Soprano, Madeleine Pierard began her musical life as a pianist and chorister in Napier, New Zealand and later as a member of The New Zealand Youth Choir, The Tudor Consort and Voices New Zealand.http://www.madeleinepierard.com/

New Zealand baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and studied with David Harper. He has performed with the opera houses of San Francisco, Philadelphia, Austin, Washington, Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati, Santa Fe, Munich, Hamburg and Leipzig, and for Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, Chatelet Theatre Paris and Theater an der Wien.

See our feature on Madison’s adventures since her time in the NZSSC

See our feature on Tecwyn’s career development from NZSSC member to international conductor based in Sweden.

See our feature on Amelia’s exciting career since her time with NZSSC.

See our feature on Chris and his role in one of the world’s most internationally renown choirs, The Kings Singers.