Michael Stewart is at the forefront of the younger generation of choral conductors in New Zealand, as well as being one of the country’s leading concert organists. In June 2011 he was appointed Organist and Director of Music at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, after previously serving for five years as Director of Music of The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Michael is also the Music Director of The Tudor Consort, and a member of Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir.
Michael was awarded a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Canterbury and also held the inaugural John Robert Godley Organ Scholarship at Christchurch Cathedral. He was the recipient of a Dame Malvina Major Arts Excellence Award in 2002, which enabled him to pursue further study at McGill University (Montréal, Canada). He was awarded a McGill Organ Scholarship and graduated with a Master of Music degree majoring in organ performance in 2004. During his time in Montréal, Michael held the position of Assistant Organist to The Church of St Andrew and St Paul, a flourishing downtown Presbyterian church which boasts the finest music programme in the country. He has recorded for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio New Zealand – Concert, and has produced two solo organ CDs: Puissant (2001) and Ave maris stella (2007).
Since becoming Music Director of The Tudor Consort in 2007, Michael has continued the standard of choral excellence which this renowned early-music ensemble is noted for. He has broadened the repertoire to include music from the early Tudor composers through to the 20th Century, and has led critically-acclaimed performances of Handel’s Messiah and J S Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. In 2011 Michael led The Tudor Consort in their 25th Anniversary Season, including a performance of Tallis’s Spem in Alium. Following the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch in 2012, he recorded Antoine Brumel’s Missa Et ecce terrae motus (The ‘Earthquake’ Mass) with The Tudor Consort as a fundraiser for Christchurch Cathedral’s music department.
David Hamilton joined Choirs Aotearoa NZ’s Board of Trustees in September 2012. David is an alumnus of NZ Youth Choir and is a teacher and widely performed composer with a particular interest in choral music.
Alex grew up in Hawke’s Bay after originating from Wellington. He has a keen interest for the arts specifically in theater but with no less passion as he is with his music.
Alex has been in choirs since primary school being actively apart of them at both primary and secondary school level, with key leadership roles in each. Alex was a member of the Tenor 1 section of the 2011/2012 NZSSC and his love for choral repertoire has grown exponentially since being apart of a choir at national level. Alex hopes the continued opportunities of the NZYC will further develop his passion for singing and performance.
Alex is currently studying first year Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Information Systems and Management at Victoria University in Wellington and hopes to find work in business IT alongside his passion for theater.
Emma Billings has worked for Choirs Aotearoa NZ since April 2005, both in her current role as Operations Manager and previously as the Choir Administrator.
Emma came to the choirs after spending three years working for the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow, Scotland, and previously for Arts Access Aotearoa and the Museum of Wellington City and Sea.
She has always been interested in arts management and completed a BA in Art History and BCA in Marketing at Victoria University of Wellington.
Latafale joined NZ Youth Choir in 2013.
Latafale attended King’s College in 2010. She won the Vice-Chancellors Top Pacific Scholarship to Auckland, but opted to study a double degree in Law and Music at Otago University, on the Faculty of Law’s Prestigious 5 year Scholarship.
Latafale works as the Music Director for Student Soul in Dunedin and dances with the Otago Dancers.
