Latest news with #DavidSquire
The Spinoff
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
The New Zealand Youth Choir global award shows there's soft power in more than just sports
The New Zealand Youth Choir was recently awarded the title of 'Choir of the World' at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales. Labour arts spokesperson Rachel Boyack reflects on her experiences touring with the choir over 20 years ago. If you didn't hear the news this week, our beloved New Zealand Youth Choir won the 'Choir of the World' title at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales. The Llangollen Eisteddfod is the crème de la crème, the Holy Grail if you like, of choral competitions, and winning the title is an outstanding feat for a national choir from a small country like Aotearoa. I woke up to the news last Sunday morning, and after shedding a tear, I watched the choir's winning set, swelling with pride for these outstanding young singers and how they represent us so admirably on the world stage. I've been lucky to spend time with the choir this year and to see them perform a number of times. This has included watching the choir performing live on Breakfast TV at Waitangi on Waitangi Day, and filling Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland in an extraordinary farewell concert. I've been struck by the joy the choir has when they perform, and the obvious respect they have for each other, and the choir leadership. It's hard to pull together a group of fifty 18-25 year-olds from across New Zealand and turn them into a well-oiled team, but that is exactly what music director David Squire, assistant music director Michael Stewart and vocal consultant Morag Atchison have done. The New Zealand Youth Choir was established in 1979 by Dr Guy Jansen, with professor Peter Godfrey acting as its first conductor. Both giants of the choral music scene in New Zealand. The purpose of the choir is to develop choral excellence among some of the country's most talented young singers, and contribute to other musical goals, like commissioning new work from New Zealand composers, and training the next generation of global opera singers, conductors and music teachers. The choir quickly cemented itself on the international choral scene, winning big awards from the very beginning, being invited to sing at significant New Zealand events, and performing with the likes of Dame Kiri te Kanawa at Wembley. According to my mother, I first heard the choir singing during the summer of 1989-90, while holidaying in St Arnaud as a 10-year-old. While I have many memories of tramping around Lake Rotoiti with my brother and father, and staying overnight in the hut, I don't recall the concert! It wasn't until I was age 13 that I fell in love with the choir listening to their first album, Te Roopu Rangatahi Waiata o Aotearoa (1992), which featured choral works from some of New Zealand's greatest composers: Jack Body, David Griffiths, Douglas Mews, and prolific choral composer, and alumni, David Hamilton. I would listen to that album every day, probably driving my family mad! I was entranced by the youthful but rich voices, the incredible blend of the choir, and the perfection of the intonation and timing. This was a craft I wanted to master. At that young age, I set myself a goal to be selected for the New Zealand Youth Choir and joined every choir possible throughout my teenage years to achieve it. After spending two years as a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, and beginning music studies at the University of Auckland, I was selected to join the choir as a 19-year-old and was privileged to be a member from 2000-2004, including two international tours, one to the United States, and a later tour of Europe, where we traversed Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria and finally a week in St Petersburg and Moscow in Russia. Among many formative moments from that European tour in 2004, one sticks out. On our way to Europe we stopped off in Singapore and performed to a packed town hall of high school students – our first concert of the tour. It wasn't the European Art Song, or Bach's motets, or Antonio Lotti's famous baroque masterpiece 'Crucifixus' that led to the audience of high school students giving us a standing ovation. It was a performance of 'I te timatanga', gifted to the Choir by the Wehi Whanau and that tells the story of the separation of Ranginui from Papatūānuku, that led to a hall full of screaming schoolgirls on their feet. The kind of response usually reserved for a 1990s boyband! As a choir girl it wasn't something I had ever experienced before. We described ourselves as 'the All Blacks of the singing world.' Every time the choir travelled overseas it would return with a trophy haul that required the building of a new cabinet, and accolades from top international choral judges. Pulling on the black and silver uniform and representing our country overseas was a thrill, and one of the privileges of my life. While the choir receives funding from Creative New Zealand, they have to rely on fundraising and personal contributions from choir members to travel internationally. That has always felt inequitable given the work the choir does to promote New Zealand internationally, especially when compared to some award-winning sporting codes. It also means some singers may miss out on being involved in the choir due to financial constraints. The current government has continued the work of the previous Labour government and released a draft Arts Strategy: Amplify. One of the 2030 targets listed in the strategy is for New Zealand to rank among the top 25 nations in the world for culture and heritage soft power, resulting in high-value cultural tourism and exports. It is an ambitious target, and I support it. The New Zealand Youth Choir is an excellent example of that soft power in action. Everyone at Llangollen in Wales was talking about the New Zealand Youth Choir, with reports on the choir broadcast all over the media in the region, and globally. Social media lit up with videos of the choir's performances, and the incredible haka they performed for their music director David Squire after their win was announced. The New Zealand Youth Choir, and their sister choirs, the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir and Voices New Zealand rely on government funding from Creative NZ. Currently, they receive multi-year funding from the Totara Programme, which CNZ is ending. While I am confident that the choir's success on the world stage will ensure their funding continues, having the certainty of multi-year funding means the choirs can operate with confidence, plan international tours and commission new works by New Zealand composers. And this alumni, and the rest of New Zealand, can continue to be so very, very proud of our world-class New Zealand Youth Choir.
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
NZ Youth Choir Wins CHOIR OF THE WORLD
Press Release – Choirs Aotearoa NZ Trust In Wales last night, New Zealand Youth Choir director David Squire also won Most Inspiring Conductor. The New Zealand Youth Choir has won CHOIR OF THE WORLD at the 2025 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. This follows their massive win at the European Choir Games in Aarhus, Denmark, earlier this week, where they won the Grand Prix of Nations with a score of 97.5 in the Folklore category, In Wales last night, New Zealand Youth Choir director David Squire also won 'Most Inspiring Conductor'. Choirs Aotearoa CE Arne Herrmann, who is travelling with the choir, commented, 'We are so proud of our mahi and our art earning this recognition on a global stage. Our waiata are a taonga we have shared with audiences around the world, and the judges called them 'the true spirit of Aotearoa'. For us, coming from the other side of the world, representing our beautiful country and the people of Aotearoa … this win is just unbelievable.' MORE ABOUT DAVID SQUIRE David has taught music in schools for 35 years and in 2011 won a New Zealander of the Year Local Heroes Medal for services to music education. His ensembles have won many awards at local and international music festivals, such as the NZCF Big Sing. His Rangitoto College mixed-voice chamber choir, The Fundamentals, won the platinum award at the 2008 NZCF Big Sing Finale in Wellington – the first time for a mixed-voice choir. David's upper-voice choir from Kristin School, Euphony, was third in the open female choir competition at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales, in 2013. In 2019, Euphony represented New Zealand at the Budapest International Choral Festival, winning the Youth Choirs of Equal Voices category, coming 3rd in the open Musica Sacra category and was invited to compete for the Grand Prix. David's Westlake Boys High School lower-voice choir, Voicemale, won the Grand Prix at the 2nd Leonardo da Vinci International Choral Festival in Florence in 2018, and David won the award for best conductor at this event. David has been music director of the Westlake Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, and it has won more gold awards at the KBB Music Festival than any other ensemble. In 2014 the orchestra was placed first equal at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna. David is also the director of the Auckland Youth Choir, Vice-Chair of the New Zealand Association of Choral Directors, is a national conducting advisor and tutor and was a governance board member of the New Zealand Choral Federation for 9-years. He completed his undergraduate study at the University of Auckland, with an emphasis on conducting and composition, later graduating with a Master of Music degree with first class honours in choral conducting. He studied singing with Isabel Cunningham, Glenese Blake and Beatrice Webster, and conducting with Karen Grylls and Juan Matteucci. He has sung with many top choirs in New Zealand, including the Auckland Dorian Choir, University of Auckland Chamber Choir and the New Zealand Youth Choir. He was a founding member of Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and the V8 Vocal Ensemble. David has previously led the New Zealand Youth Choir on four international tours, including the USA and Canada in 2013, which featured performances of the War Requiem by Britten in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, as well as concerts in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York and Washington DC. In 2016 the choir gave concerts in Singapore, the Czech Republic, France and the UK. Tour highlights included singing high mass at Notre-Dame in Paris, a lunchtime concert at Windsor Castle, and producing a live DVD recording of a well-received concert at St Johns Smith Square in London. The choir also participated in the Festival of Academic Choirs in Pardubice, Czech Republic, winning every category it entered, as well as the prize for outstanding vocal culture, and then going on to win the Grand Prix. At the end of 2019 the choir embarked on a Pacific tour aboard the cruise ship MS Maasdam, taking in Tonga, Niue, Fiji, New Caledonia and Sydney. In 2022 the choir toured Australia, presenting performances in Tasmania, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and at the Sydney Opera House. As a freelance musician, David has conducted several local ensembles, including the Auckland Philharmonia and the St Matthews Chamber Orchestra. He was the assistant musical director of the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, founding musical director of the Auckland Youth Big Band, chairman and administrator of the KBB Music Festival, and a live performance reviewer for Radio NZ Concert. David is often involved in session and recording work, particularly as a conductor, adjudicator, clinician and singer and was choir director on the recent New Zealand film, Tinā. He has also served as the choir director for Synthony, and is the chorus master for the International Schools Choral Music Society based in China.
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
NZ Youth Choir Wins CHOIR OF THE WORLD
The New Zealand Youth Choir has won CHOIR OF THE WORLD at the 2025 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. This follows their massive win at the European Choir Games in Aarhus, Denmark, earlier this week, where they won the Grand Prix of Nations with a score of 97.5 in the Folklore category, In Wales last night, New Zealand Youth Choir director David Squire also won 'Most Inspiring Conductor'. Choirs Aotearoa CE Arne Herrmann, who is travelling with the choir, commented, 'We are so proud of our mahi and our art earning this recognition on a global stage. Our waiata are a taonga we have shared with audiences around the world, and the judges called them 'the true spirit of Aotearoa'. For us, coming from the other side of the world, representing our beautiful country and the people of Aotearoa … this win is just unbelievable.' MORE ABOUT DAVID SQUIRE David has taught music in schools for 35 years and in 2011 won a New Zealander of the Year Local Heroes Medal for services to music education. His ensembles have won many awards at local and international music festivals, such as the NZCF Big Sing. His Rangitoto College mixed-voice chamber choir, The Fundamentals, won the platinum award at the 2008 NZCF Big Sing Finale in Wellington – the first time for a mixed-voice choir. David's upper-voice choir from Kristin School, Euphony, was third in the open female choir competition at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales, in 2013. In 2019, Euphony represented New Zealand at the Budapest International Choral Festival, winning the Youth Choirs of Equal Voices category, coming 3rd in the open Musica Sacra category and was invited to compete for the Grand Prix. David's Westlake Boys High School lower-voice choir, Voicemale, won the Grand Prix at the 2nd Leonardo da Vinci International Choral Festival in Florence in 2018, and David won the award for best conductor at this event. David has been music director of the Westlake Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, and it has won more gold awards at the KBB Music Festival than any other ensemble. In 2014 the orchestra was placed first equal at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna. David is also the director of the Auckland Youth Choir, Vice-Chair of the New Zealand Association of Choral Directors, is a national conducting advisor and tutor and was a governance board member of the New Zealand Choral Federation for 9-years. He completed his undergraduate study at the University of Auckland, with an emphasis on conducting and composition, later graduating with a Master of Music degree with first class honours in choral conducting. He studied singing with Isabel Cunningham, Glenese Blake and Beatrice Webster, and conducting with Karen Grylls and Juan Matteucci. He has sung with many top choirs in New Zealand, including the Auckland Dorian Choir, University of Auckland Chamber Choir and the New Zealand Youth Choir. He was a founding member of Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and the V8 Vocal Ensemble. David has previously led the New Zealand Youth Choir on four international tours, including the USA and Canada in 2013, which featured performances of the War Requiem by Britten in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, as well as concerts in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York and Washington DC. In 2016 the choir gave concerts in Singapore, the Czech Republic, France and the UK. Tour highlights included singing high mass at Notre-Dame in Paris, a lunchtime concert at Windsor Castle, and producing a live DVD recording of a well-received concert at St Johns Smith Square in London. The choir also participated in the Festival of Academic Choirs in Pardubice, Czech Republic, winning every category it entered, as well as the prize for outstanding vocal culture, and then going on to win the Grand Prix. At the end of 2019 the choir embarked on a Pacific tour aboard the cruise ship MS Maasdam, taking in Tonga, Niue, Fiji, New Caledonia and Sydney. In 2022 the choir toured Australia, presenting performances in Tasmania, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and at the Sydney Opera House. As a freelance musician, David has conducted several local ensembles, including the Auckland Philharmonia and the St Matthews Chamber Orchestra. He was the assistant musical director of the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, founding musical director of the Auckland Youth Big Band, chairman and administrator of the KBB Music Festival, and a live performance reviewer for Radio NZ Concert. David is often involved in session and recording work, particularly as a conductor, adjudicator, clinician and singer and was choir director on the recent New Zealand film, Tinā. He has also served as the choir director for Synthony, and is the chorus master for the International Schools Choral Music Society based in China.
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
NZ Youth Choir Wins Grand Prix Of Nations At European Choir Games
It's just been announced that the NZ Youth Choir has won the Grand Prix of Nations at European Choir Games in Aarhus, Denmark. Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand CE, Arne Hermann, who is travelling with the choir, said, 'Their magic mix of waiata and songs from the Pacific convinced the judges and earned an incredible 97.50 out of 100 possible points in this highest performance category at the Games in the Folklore section'. New Zealand Youth Choir scored 96.25 in the other category it competed in, the Musica Sacra a cappella earning it the second place and a 'Gold Medal - Top Level' award. We are incredibly proud of the singers and the artistic team: Music Director David Squire - musician, Deputy Music Director Michael Stewart and Vocal Consultant Morag Atchison.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
David Squire's farewell NZ Youth Choir tour
David Squire directing the NZ Youth Choir at the Sydney Opera House in December 2022. Photo: Robert Catto Photography When David Squire joined New Zealand's National Youth Choir as a singer, it never occurred to him he might one day direct it. But direct it he has, for 15 years. That time, which has included some "really amazing experiences", is coming to an end, as Squire is stepping down as the New Zealand Youth Choir 's music director once it has completed its latest overseas tour to Singapore, Denmark and the UK. Squire and choir tenor Ivan Zhang joined RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump ahead of the choir's departure. This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. David Squire and the New Zealand Youth Choir Photo: Jo Highlights of the tour will include taking part in the European Choir Games in Denmark before representing New Zealand at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. The latter is a celebration of and competition for performing arts groups from around the world. It's not the first time the Youth Choir has taken part in the Eisteddfod, which all happens in a giant tent in a field not far from the small north Wales town of Llangollen. The last time Squire took the choir there, everyone was sweltering in a heatwave (and there's not much in the way of air conditioning inside the tent). The year before, it rained and the venue turned into a swamp. Not that those extremes put the musicians off. New Zealand Youth Choir 2025 member Ivan Zhang Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Youth Choir The tour also marks the end of Ivan Zhang's current stint with the choir. As well as studying music, Zhang is also reading law at Auckland University. He was thinking law would be his longer term career choice, but he is beginning to wonder if music is where his heart is. Luckily, he's young enough to audition for another stint with the NZ Youth Choir. As for Squire, he's not sure what his longer term plans will be. His focus is on the Youth Choir's tour, and once that's over, taking part in the Big Sing where Euphony and Voicemale - two Auckland secondary school choirs he directs - have made it through to the Finale in Dunedin this August.
