NEWS AND REVIEWS

Voices New Zealand: Mozart’s Requiem tells a tragic story

Reviews by Elizabeth Kerr & Peter Menchen

Elizabeth Kerr at Five Lines, and Peter Menchen at Middle-C attended our final ‘Reimaging Mozart’ concert in Wellington, and provided these stunning reviews!

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CANZ Artistic Director Dr Karen Grylls Honoured

Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Choral Music

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Karen Grylls, the esteemed Artistic Director of Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand, has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for her exceptional contributions to the world of choral music.

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Reimagine… Our 2023 Concerts

I am truly delighted to share our 2023 season Reimagine… another exciting year for Voices New Zealand. Our collaborations with Chamber Music NZ, the NZSO, APO and with Stage Director Jacqui Coates, as well as our self-curated tours make for a fine artistic experience for our singers and for you, our audience.

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A Welcome from Musical Director Karen Grylls

I am genuinely excited...

Our 2022 season is here, bigger and more ambitious than ever

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JOB RE-ADVERTISED: Manager NZSSC (closes 19 Jan)

If you like variety, travel, and working in small teams for something utterly beautiful, read on!

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New Christmas Album – Follow That Star

Just in time for the festive season, we’re proud to present ‘Follow That Star’, a southern hemisphere Christmas collection of New Zealand Choral Music. In the midst of the pandemic, six New Zealand composers (five are represented here) were commissioned by Voices New Zealand and Artistic Director, Karen Grylls, to reimagine familiar Christmas tunes. The […]

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Five Ways The Amplify Collective is Helping our National Choirs

The Amplify Collective provides vital support for all three of our national choirs. Vocies NZ wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do with New Zealand singers without the generous support of our Amplifiers.

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NEW: Masks for singers

We are no longer accepting individual orders – the minimum order is now 8 masks.

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Introducing: 9Live A new Wellington ‘Voices’ ensemble

Our July 2021 newsletter

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OPPORTUNITY: New Trustees Sought

Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Foundation – new members sought

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Auditioning for new ‘small’ Voices ensembles

Register for auditions now

We are now calling Auckland and Wellington based aspirational and professional singers to audition for the new 8-singer strong Voices Ensembles.

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Newsletter: A romantic tour-de-force from Voices NZ

“No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.”
– W.H. Auden

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IN THE NEWS: Compose Aotearoa offers the chance to write for a full choir

Composing for a large choir and a maximum of three instruments – that’s the challenge Choirs Aotearoa NZ is issuing to some adventurous Kiwi composers. It’s a perfect time for composers to try something new.   Concert plans are in disarray, thanks to the pandemic.  And they’re likely to continue to face disruptions for the […]

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Compose Aotearoa!

National Choral Composition Competition 2020

Compose Aotearoa! is a new national initiative to stimulate the creation of new and diverse New Zealand music for choirs. Designed as an annual competition facilitated by the national body managing our three national choirs, Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust, Compose Aotearoa! will be a rewarding pathway for young as well as established composers to produce new work. […]

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OPPORTUNITY: New trustees sought

Got governance skills and passionate about our choirs?

Choirs Aotearoa NZ (CANZ) continues to thrive and we are looking for new Trustees with specific skills.

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New conducting roles for New Zealand’s premier choir

New conducting roles for New Zealand’s premier choir The next step in nurturing conductor talent Choirs Aotearoa NZ is delighted to announce the establishment of four new Associate Conductors of premier national chamber choir Voices New Zealand, Auckland-based Nicholas Forbes, Fiona Wilson, Rowan Johnston, and Wellington-based Isaac Stone. Associate Conductors will engage in our regional development activities and will also support the […]

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NEW VOICES Internships launched

Conducting and vocal coaching

Are you a conductor or vocal coach and want to take your craft to the next level? VOICES is now accepting registrations for two new internship programmes in CONDUCTING and VOCAL COACHING. Find out more here… Application deadline is 17 March.

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TAONGA MOANA – A LOVE LETTER TO THE OCEAN

A review of our Napier show from the Hook NZ

Standing on Marine Parade before this concert, a calm green/blue sea, gulls and a dark-lined horizon, I wondered how on earth a wholeness could be created out of the great risotto of influences identified in the programme notes. From sea serpents, whales, Mother Theresa, Māori, Finnish, Indonesian cultures, waka made of human bones, and so much more. […]

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On national tour: TAONGA MOANA

Taonga Moana is an exciting event for anybody who cares about our planet, loves exquisite music and appreciates human creativity – the explorers, the seafarers, the beach dwellers, the thinkers, the environmentalists.

On a 9 city tour with Chamber Music New Zealand, New Zealand’s premier national chamber choir performs a stunning musical reminder of the beauty and importance of our oceans.

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Classical review: Heartwarming treat for a bleak winter day

Review of 'Follow the Star' in Dunedin, from the Otago Daily Times

ST Paul’s Cathedral was the venue for Voices New Zealand’s midwinter Yulefest recital entitled ‘‘Follow the Star’’.

We hear so much about the country’s top sports teams, but I was delighted to review Saturday’s Dunedin performance by one of New Zealand’s international award winning choirs.

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New era for national choirs

New Zealand’s Three National Choirs Come Together

It’s been talked about for a long time and now finally, New Zealand’s three national choirs, Voices New Zealand, NZ Youth Choir and New Zealand Secondary Students Choir (NZSSC), are to merge under one governing body. NZSSC, the prestigious national choir for 14-18 year olds, is joining Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand, the arts trust that promotes vocal excellence and already governs the other two national choirs.

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Classical Review: A new ANZAC symphonic work revealing the tragedy of the survivors

NBR Weekend Review, By John Daly-Peoples

Last week the Auckland Philharmonia premiered FACE, a new work commissioned from Ross Harris. The piece was inspired by the story of Sir Harold Gillies, the New Zealander who became the father of plastic surgery and who, along with several other New Zealand surgeons treated the disfiguring facial injuries sustained by soldiers during World War I.

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Classical review: Enigma concert fills the house

Reviewer: William Dart, NZ Herald

The APO and VOICES NZ perform NZ composer Ross Harris’s new work, Face.

“One sensed justifiable pride when Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra CEO Barbara Glaser announced the Enigma concert had drawn a full house and, best of all, the programme included a major commission, shared with the BBC, ” writes William Dart.

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A dream come true

Since 1998, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir has performed, rehearsed and trained to deliver the most excellent choral singing in this country and on occasion, overseas. From a professionally run choir to a truly professional ensemble under Karen Grylls’ inspiring leadership, VOICES is turning 20 and now we have the opportunity to put the icing on the birthday cake – a professional European tour!

This is a dream tour and we hope you can help us make this dream come true.

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The King’s Singers rule supreme

VOICES NZ & The King's Singers in concert

“The King’s Singers sextet were good-humoured, supremely talented, effortlessly accomplished, confident and gracious. Voices New Zealand was impeccably supportive, balancing the sextet and reinforcing the climax of the chosen works. The two groups were complementary, symphonious – superb.

It was a refined, inspiring, entertaining evening – a precise, crystalline, perfect concert.”- Stephen Gibbs

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VOICES NZ turns 20 and celebrates with The King’s Singers

Our Artistic Director reflects on the 20th anniversary of VOICES in context of the upcoming concert with The King’s Singers. The above photograph shows Karen and VOICES at a 2002 concert in Christchurch.

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Love VOICES concert packages

2018 concert packages LOVE VOICES out now

You can now pick and mix your favourite VOICES concerts for next year and SAVE!

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5/5 ‘a rich and reverberant mix, immaculately balanced and paced’

NZ Herald’s William Dart reviews the latest VOICES CD, ‘Requiem for the fallen’

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VOICES NZ joins UK’s The King’s Singers for NZ tour

The best choral voices in New Zealand and one of Britain’s greatest musical exports unite for two concerts

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Welcome spring with sumptuous French music

CANZ October 2017 newsletter

Check out the interview in our latest newsletter with collaborative pianist Rachel Fuller, who will feature in our upcoming Salut Printemps concerts.
“Every day of my career has been different – and I love it that way!” Rachel

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A commission to be thoroughly proud of – The Unusual Silence

The commissioning of challenging new work is essential in a genre that can at times feel safely, beautifully two-dimensional, and The Unusual Silence is a commission Grylls and Voices New Zealand can be thoroughly proud of.  

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NZ Herald review: The Unusual Silence concert

Voices NZ Chamber Choir led by the world-renowned conductor Karen Grylls

The Unusual Silence, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir’s WWI commemoration, was a powerful and reverberant experience in the marble halls of Auckland Museum.

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WWI wasn’t primarily a musical

The Unusual Silence is Voices NZ’s first collaboration with NZ Opera’s General Director Stuart Maunder, who is taking time out in between the Auckland and Wellington seasons of NZ Opera’s production of Kátya Kabanová.

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New VOICES CD released – Requiem for the Fallen

A ‘stunningly impressive’ performance of Ross Harris’s WWI commemoration piece has resulted in a new CD, featuring VOICES NZ, Horomona Hero and the New Zealand String Quartet conducted by Karen Grylls.

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Baroque Voices Concert

Reviewed by William Dart

….the 24 singers of Voices NZ Chamber Choir displaying the vocal heft of three times that number….

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VOICES New Zealand has a new look!

For some time now we have been thinking about what VOICES is, the works we sing and where we come from. This process has resulted in a new unique identity, a logo that we hope you too will enjoy.

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A dramatic staging of PASSIO

Audiences were treated to an epic staging of Jack Body’s PASSIO on Sunday as part of the 2017 Auckland Arts Festival.

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First VOICES concert series announced

Showcasing the vocal excellence and versatility of our national choir

New Zealand’s premier professional choir, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir is releasing its first ever concert series subscription offering four different concert programmes in five centres around the country this year.

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New artistic staff for National choirs

Dr Karen Grylls has been re-appointed as Artistic Director for Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir (VOICES) and The New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) while newcomer and Wellingtonian Michael Stewart was appointed as NZYC’s new Deputy Music Director.

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Middle C – Sounds and Sweet Airs: Songs of Shakespeare Review

"The entire performance was characterised by captivating finesse, and did honour to Shakespeare."

Festival presents Shakespeare songs from two choirs in admirable literary and musical contexts.

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Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Voices New Zealand, Terence Dennis (pianist) and conductor Karen Grylls

"...a splendid recognition of one of New Zealand’s true international celebrities."

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performs with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir at the Michael Fowler Centre, March 13 2016, reviewed by Lindis Taylor of Middle C.

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Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir directed by Karen Grylls and Terence Dennis (piano)

Reviewed by John Button, Dominion Post

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performs with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir at the Michael Fowler Centre, March 13 2016, reviewed by John Button of the Dominion Post.

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NZ Herald CD Review

"The country's premier chamber choir maps out an unforgettable journey." ***** William Dart, NZ Herald

Conductor Karen Grylls explains the disc’s title, Voice of the Soul, as “a metaphor for a journey of traditions, story telling and passionate music of the senses”.

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Peter Hoar: APO Child of Our Time review

Peter reviews the Auckland Festival production of Tippet’s Child of Our Time performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Voices NZ and the NZ Youth Choir.

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Auckland Arts Festival review: A Child of our time, Auckland Town Hall

In festival’s homegrown highlight, orchestra and voices give rich offering of oratorio’s message of peace.

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Choristers revel in celebration of light

In a nutshell, as the Festival brochure put it, Ata Reira promised an evening of award-winning choirs, majestic voices and Te Reo Maori in song. Both separately and together, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and the New Zealand Youth Choir delivered all this in a choral celebration of light … and much more.

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Voice of the Soul

Voices 16, from the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, show a tremendous versatility in a varied yet totally cohesive concert for Atoll Records that creates some especially fine atmospheric moments

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Voice of the Soul

“..a fascinating and lovingly prepared programme which made a strong and delightful impression..”

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Voices NZ Melbourne Concert Review

The audience in St Paul’s Cathedral was treated to a wonderful night of choral music inspired by the idea of the Magnificat.

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‘Requiem for the Fallen’ Review

“This was indeed a never-to-be-forgotten experience for all who attended” – Otago Daily Times.

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Requiem for the Fallen: Review

“Stunningly impressive and emotionally draining” – Brenda Harwood

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VOICES at NZ Arts Festival, NZ Herald Review

"Voices NZ and Grylls are a potent team.."

There was an air of ritual about Requiem for the Fallen, the major music commission of the New Zealand Arts Festival.

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Classical review: Magic Midwinter Yulefest With Voices New Zealand

Review of 'Follow the Star' in Auckland, by Clare Martin from Radio13

There was magic spun from Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir led by distinguished conductor Karen Grylls in their concert at St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland, NZ last night. A midwinter Yulefest celebrating Christmas with music from both northern and southern hemispheres including a significant number of NZ composers. The theme for the selection was Follow the Star, the North Star leading the Wise Men to the nativity and the stars of our very own star cluster Matariki.

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Welcome to our new Manager, Louise!

In 2020 we welcome Louise as our Manager, and the new Manager of the NZ Youth Choir, to the Choirs Aotearoa NZ whānau. Louise has over 10 years working in Arts Management in a variety of fields. She gained a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from Otago University before beginning her career as Stage Manager […]

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A MESSAGE FROM CHOIRS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Kia ora friends of our national choirs,

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Get to know our Director: Jacqueline Coats

Our new production When Light Breaks is only a few weeks away, and we’re delighted to be working with acclaimed Opera Director (and NZ Youth Choir alumnus) Jacqueline Coats!

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OPPORTUNITY: Arts Marketer – Parental Leave Cover

Join the team behind our national choirs!

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Taonga Moana off to Wanaka

Taonga Moana is heading to the mainland, the Festival of Colour in Wanaka for a one-night only concert on 14 April. “For Voices New Zealand, Taonga Moana represents a significant moment in their performing career. When I founded the choir in 1998, the aspiration was to create a Chamber Choir on a professional level, to be visible alongside […]

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Our Te Ao Māori Journey

CANZ seeks to protect and honour the national taonga of Te Ao Māori both when we perform with our national choirs and in our day to day operations. We aim to: – Increase our usage of Te Reo Māori in our daily operations, publications and concerts – Publish an Interculturalism Policy – Develop and enhance […]

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Fiona Wilson announced as CANZ Assistant Conductor

Meet our newest addition to the CANZ family!

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