In a landmark moment for choral music in Aotearoa New Zealand, Grammy Award winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre takes the stage in Wellington for on Open Rehearsal with the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir.

Eric Whitacre's works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united singers from more than 145 countries over the last decade. A graduate of Juilliard School of Music, Eric completed his second term as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 2020 having served five years as Composer in Residence at the University of Cambridge. In 2021, Eric was named a Yamaha Artist.

In this 1-hour long rehearsal, Eric will work with and conduct NZSSC on a selection of his own works that the choir will be performing that night at the gala concert.

The 5 pieces the choir is planning to work on are:

1. Animal Crackers (Vol 1)
2. Animal Crackers (Vol 2)
3. Seal Lullaby
4. Lux Aurumque
5. Little Birds

• Our choir and staff are fully vaccinated
• There may be restricted audience numbers depending on the colour level of the Protection Framework
• Audience will be kindly asked to wear masks, which we will have available

If you have any specific questions around our commitment to keep our choir and audience safe, feel free to email choirs@choirsnz.co.nz