Hailing from the UK, Jessica moved to New Zealand for this new role with CANZ and brings extensive experience from across the choral arts management sector. Most recently working as Artist Manager at James Brown Management, Jessica spent several years leading operational management of The Tallis Scholars – spearheading the planning and execution of more than 300 high-profile performances across 25 countries for this world-class ensemble by collaborating with promoters, festivals and broadcasters throughout the globe to pilot the logistical and strategic delivery of the group’s international artistic work. Her wider JBM portfolio included supporting choral conductors Daniel Hyde and Nicholas Chalmers, and the GRAMMY-winning Attacca Quartet.

Alongside her work at JBM, Jessica took on a pivotal leadership role in the formation and growth of Cambridge University Schola Cantorum. Having played a central part in leading the international campaign to save St John’s Voices as it faced closure, Jessica went on to serve as Cambridge Schola’s first General Manager after its emergence from SJV following its disbandment. She was instrumental in guiding the choir through its transition and reconstitution, helping to re-establish the ensemble with a renewed artistic vision and organisational structure. Working closely with the Artistic Director, she contributed to defining the choir’s vision, mission and long-term strategic direction, and aided the facilitation of community engagement and outreach projects such as development opportunities with the BBC Singers and Sheffield’s Steel City Choristers.

Jessica also brings extensive experience as a professional choral singer, having held posts with the VOCES8 Scholars, Choirs of Clare & Trinity Colleges in Cambridge, St Martin-in-the-Fields in London and the Choir of Royal Holloway amongst others. Jessica has enjoyed singing on the freelance choral circuit across the UK and Europe for a number of years, also acting as choral fixer for a variety of projects including ‘Carols at the Royal Albert Hall’ and the Edington Music Festival.

She holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and Master of Music from Royal Holloway, University of London, and spent a year studying on international exchange at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and Te Kōkī – New Zealand School of Music.

Sarah has a a Bachelor of Choral Music Education from Butler University (hons) and a Master of Music from The University of Auckland. After living and teaching English in the Kingdom of Tonga, Sarah fell in love with the South Pacific and moved to NZ in 2009. Her music teaching career began at Waiheke High School, where she established the school’s first choral programme.

Sarah now leads a thriving choral programme at Macleans College, overseeing five choirs and more than 400 students. Alongside her choral work and role as head of curriculum music, she has directed community choirs, including working as part of the directorship team at All Together Now.

Sarah has been a passionate choral singer since the age of seven when she joined Essex Children’s Choir. Since then, she has sung with show choirs, university chamber and madrigal choirs, and was part of MUSE: Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir. In NZ, Sarah has sung with Sister Shout on Waiheke Island and Auckland Chamber Choir. Sarah currently sings with Luminata Voices.

Takerei (Ngāpuhi, Whānau-a-Apanui) is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. They is very active in the NZ choral scene as a singer, composer and conductor. They sing in the University of Auckland Chamber Choir and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, and regularly perform with choirs and ensembles around the country. Previously, they were a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir’s 2017-2018 cycle, and the New Zealand Youth Choir’s 2020 – 2022 and 2023 – 2025 cycles.

Takerei is actively involved as a conductor. They have been the Peter Godfrey Conducting Scholar for the New Zealand Youth Choir, and have conducted choirs at Kristin School, St Paul’s College Ponsonby, Auckland Grammar School, Takapuna Grammar School, and currently Epsom Girls Grammar School. They also developed the Lower Voices Choral Festival, which brought together lower-voice choirs from around Tāmaki Makaurau for an afternoon of bonding over singing and performance. The festival had a successful first outing in May of 2024, and is well on its way to become a fixture in the Aotearoa choral landscape.

As a composer, they have enjoyed writing various commissions over the years, focusing on choral music exploring and honouring the unique timbres and shapes of Te Reo Māori. In October of 2024, they were awarded Highly Commended in the national choral composition competition, Compose Aotearoa!, with their piece, Papatūānuku, scored for SATB double chorus. Their works have been performed in Australia, USA, Denmark, as well as all across Aotearoa.

James Harrison studied at the Royal College of Music where he won the prestigious Lies Askonas Prize, then went on to the National Opera Studio.

James has appeared in concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican, The Wigmore Hall and St John’s Smith Square with groups such as The Prince Consort, Grahame Johnson’s Young Songmakers and The Classical Opera Company.

Before moving back to New Zealand he sang throughout the UK and Europe for a number of companies, including Opera Holland Park, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, and many of the smaller touring companies.

James sings with orchestras and choirs throughout Aotearoa regularly and is in demand as a teacher and choral educator. He has taught at the University of Waikato, coached Voices New Zealand, The New Zealand Youth Choir and New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, is the Associate Chorusmaster of Auckland Choral, and is working with top school choirs and young singers across the country.