NEWS
NZSSC whānau deeply saddened by the passing of former MD Andrew Withington
Sunday 29 June 2025
Andrew took over the artistic leadership in 2008 for a whole decade. Here are a few highlights of what he and the choir achieved in that time: The 2009/10 choir toured to Canada, again achieving great success at the International Choral Kathaumixw. The choir won the Adult Mixed Voice competition and came second in both […]
Andrew took over the artistic leadership in 2008 for a whole decade.
Here are a few highlights of what he and the choir achieved in that time:
The 2009/10 choir toured to Canada, again achieving great success at the International Choral Kathaumixw. The choir won the Adult Mixed Voice competition and came second in both Youth Choir and Folk And Cultural Traditions competitions. A new award was created especially for the NZSSC, the People’s Choice Award, as a result of the way thousands of people at the Kathaumixw responded to their music, as evidenced by standing ovations at every concert, including some audiences of over 2,000 people.
The 2011/12 choir sang in Auckland, in Christchurch as part of the Christchurch Arts Festival and Christchurch Sings, the one year commemoration to the September 2010 earthquake, in Ashburton, in Napier, and in Wellington. Andrew Withington led the choir on a tour to the Ihlombe Music Festival in South Africa, singing alongside international and South African choirs. This was an extraordinary musical and cultural experience for our members.
The 2013/14 choir sang in Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, Queenstown, Wanaka, Alexandra, Christchurch. Highlights included performing at the ANZAC Dawn Parade in Wellington, 2014, and appearing on What Now children’s television show! The choir toured to Singapore, performing at the Orientale Concentus Festival, and in Malaysia.
The 2015/16 New Zealand Secondary Students Choir enjoyed another very successful international tour to the International Choral Kathaumixw Festival in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada, this time as Guest Choir. The festival finale was a massed choir concert of one thousand voices led by the innovative Finnish conductor, Sanna Valvanne.
In 2016, NZSSC marked its 30th birthday with the establishment of a Student Support Fund and a concert at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington, where the choir was joined on stage by some of its alumni, including former director, Roger Stevenson (left in second photo).
In 2018, NZSSC toured to Hong Kong to work with the Wah Yan College Kowloon Boys’ Choir on a new commission by David Hamilton and attend the Belt and Road World Choir Festival as Resident Choir. Then it was on to Shanghai for three more days of musical and cultural adventures, including a performance at NZ Central and working with local choirs including the Vienna Boys Choir Shanghai Choir.
During this period, Artistic Director Andrew Withington completed his PhD, focused on creating his own system to teach choirs to more reliably and consistently sing in tune. Listen to an interview with Andrew discussing this research with Kim Hill on RNZ ( https://www.rnz.co.nz/…/andrew-withington-teaching-the… ).
Watch Andrew Withington’s final concert with NZSSC: Big Sing Finale 2018, courtesy of NZ Choral Federation
From our whānau:
For the 10 years that Andrew conducted the NZSSC he reported to me as the Chair.
It was a privilege to work with someone so young and talented. Andrew reached out to me last year and in response to one of our email exchanges I replied, “You can stand tall and proud of the expertise, experience and opportunities you gave to NZSSC choir members for over a decade. This is your legacy”.
Rest in peace Andrew
Linda Webb MNZM
CANZ Board & Foundation Trustee
I am devastated at the passing of Andrew Withington. He was a friend, colleague and mentor.
Andrew was an amazing musician, conductor, teacher, and singer who inspired so many young, and not so young, choral singers across New Zealand and beyond.
From leading the Primary School’s Music Festival in Christchurch to being the AD of the NZSSC for 10 years and then to working in the US university system, his legacy will be his passion and enthusiasm for choral excellence.
Thank you Andrew, for encouraging me as a conductor. It is my privilege to have followed you as MD of the NZSSC.
Rest in Peace dear Andrew.
Ngā mihi nui
Sue Densem
Music Director, NZSSC
