Susan is conductor, singer and multi-instrumentalist. She began her professional singing career in 1986 with Canterbury Opera and has performed with Queensland Opera and New Zealand Opera. Susan has sung as a soloist for many choral societies within New Zealand and Australia, touring extensively overseas with a number of ensembles. After completing her music degree […]

Benjamin Madden is a proudly born-and-bred Dunedin tenor trained by Pat Scally-Richardson and Judy Bellingham. Since finishing vocal study at the University of Otago, Benjamin has been working as a freelance singer, a choral director and private singing tutor in Dunedin. Ben currently teaches singing and directs choirs for Otago Boys’ High School and Otago […]

Brent Stewart is currently Orpheus Choir Wellington’s Music Director, Orchestra Wellington’s Principal Percussionist, and NZSSC’s Assistant Director. On the side, Brent also serves as NZSO’s director of filming. Brent was HoD Music at Wellington East Girls’ College from 2010-2019 and Music Director of the Hutt Valley Orchestra from 2007-2017. Coming up, Brent will be conducting […]

Taking up the role as Chief Executive of Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand in May 2016,  Arne has worked for over 20 years in Arts and Festival Management in New Zealand. He held senior management positions at New Zealand Festival, Auckland Arts Festival, and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and the contemporary dance company The Human Garden.

Dr Karen Grylls was appointed Musical Director of the New Zealand Youth Choir in 1989. She founded Voices New Zealand in March 1998, and is now Artistic Director Emerita of Choirs Aotearoa NZ.

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 […]

Ange comes to the CANZ with a background steeped in the Arts industry managing her husband’s career in Film/TV composition as well as two of his bands, Little Bushman & Trinity Roots. Ange co-founded the Wairarapa’s first ever, exclusively live music/performance venue & bar, King St Live (KSL). During their three-year stint with KSL, Ange managed the venue’s artistic bookings, which included hosting Dave Dobbyn, Katchafire, Tiki Taane, the Shapeshifter Sound System, NZ Comedy Fest shows & Pokey LaFarge, and many other community-based shows.

As an occupational therapist for over 30 years, Emma has been privileged to walk alongside many rangatahi in their rehabilitation from serious injuries as well as in her work in the education system (primary, secondary, and tertiary). This has included considerable focus on overall wellbeing and mental health. Emma currently operates her private practice in […]

Tahlia is a composer from Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington. She holds a Bachelor of Music in instrumental/vocal composition, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Practice,  where she specialised in film scoring. Tahlia has worked on local projects such as BBC’s The Luminaries, Blue Moon, Loading Docs He Hekenga Tuhura and Haka Haha, and the  TVNZ short series Little […]

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 […]