New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir (NZSSC) is one of the three national choirs of New Zealand. It consists of full-time secondary school students
; the only exception being students who join the choir in their final year of secondary school as they have usually finished secondary school by the second year of the choir's two-year membership cycle. Since 1988, a new choir of around 50 students has been nationally audition
ed every second year. The choir extensively tours New Zealand and provides choral workshops
at schools during this time. Over the choirs lifetime, the two year period has developed to culminate with an international tour in the second year. They generally rehearse around six times during these two years for up to a week per rehearsal. The choir has received international attention and critical acclaim from overseas audiences but limited publicity in New Zealand itself. Their repertoire, although widely varied in style
, age
and language, has specific emphasis on New Zealand composed works
and traditionally styled music of the Māori
and other Polynesian
cultures. These pieces are regularly commissioned
for the choir.
course for secondary students in the 1960s with its first performance in 1967 as an established choir under the musical direction
of Malcolm Rickard. In 1986 Dr Guy Jansen formed the first New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir as a training ground for the (formerly) New Zealand National Youth Choir
. In 1988 Roger Stevenson was appointed Musical Director. The choir was formally established as a Charitable Trust in 1997.
Late in 2000, the choir appointed Elise Bradley as Musical Director
. For each NZSSC that she directed, Elise Bradley appointed a professional tutor
ing team to assist her and also took on conducting trainees. The most notable of these conducting trainees was Andrew Withington, who in 2009 took over musical direction of the choir. The appointment of tutors by the Musical Director has since continued and contributed directly to the uniqueness of each new choir.
In 2004, the choir performed in the Oregon Bach Festival
in Eugene, Oregon
, USA. The NZSSC then toured Canada taking three first place awards (Mixed Voice Youth Choir, Youth Choir and Folk & Cultural Traditions) at the International Choral Kathaumixw in Powell River
. In this, the 11th biennial competition, the NZSSC earned more awards than any other choir in any year of competition over the history of the competition; a record which still stands. The 2005–2006 choir competed in the Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Choir Festival where it took the top award, “The World’s Choir” title and directly following this the choir travelled to Xiamen
, China where it competed in the World Choir Games
, gaining a Gold Award and Champion
(Mixed Youth Choir) and a Silver Award (Folklore a cappella).
Elise Bradley resigned as Musical Director of the NZSSC in the beginning of 2007 in order to take up the position of Artistic Director
of the Toronto Children's Chorus
. After a series of problematic events, Robert Wiremu (a past member and long-standing tutor of the choir) agreed to take on a temporary position as the Musical Director in late 2007 for the remaining year of the choir and direct during their participation in a non-competitive South American festival
tour.
In 2009, Andrew Withington, a former tutor and conducting trainee of the choir, was appointed as the Musical Director of the NZSSC. That May, Robert Wiremu resigned as a tutor of the choir.
Secondary education in New Zealand
Secondary education in New Zealand takes up to five years, covering the ages 13 to 18, corresponding to the school years 9 to 13.- Types of school :...
; the only exception being students who join the choir in their final year of secondary school as they have usually finished secondary school by the second year of the choir's two-year membership cycle. Since 1988, a new choir of around 50 students has been nationally audition
Audition
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performing artist.Audition may also refer to:* The sense of hearing* Adobe Audition, audio editing software...
ed every second year. The choir extensively tours New Zealand and provides choral workshops
Workshop (disambiguation)
A workshop is a room or building used for manufacture or repair of goods.Workshop may also refer to:* In mechanical engineering, workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods* In education, a workshop is a brief...
at schools during this time. Over the choirs lifetime, the two year period has developed to culminate with an international tour in the second year. They generally rehearse around six times during these two years for up to a week per rehearsal. The choir has received international attention and critical acclaim from overseas audiences but limited publicity in New Zealand itself. Their repertoire, although widely varied in style
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
, age
Art periods
Art period n. A phase in the development of the work of an artist, groups of artists or art movement.-Renaissance:Renaissance c. 1300 - c. 1602...
and language, has specific emphasis on New Zealand composed works
Work of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
and traditionally styled music of the Māori
Maori culture
Māori culture is the culture of the Māori of New Zealand, an Eastern Polynesian people, and forms a distinctive part of New Zealand culture. Within the Māori community, and to a lesser extent throughout New Zealand as a whole, the word Māoritanga is often used as an approximate synonym for Māori...
and other Polynesian
Polynesians
The Polynesian peoples is a grouping of various ethnic groups that speak Polynesian languages, a branch of the Oceanic languages within the Austronesian languages, and inhabit Polynesia. They number approximately 1,500,000 people...
cultures. These pieces are regularly commissioned
Commission (art)
In art, a commission is the hiring and payment for the creation of a piece, often on behalf of another.In classical music, ensembles often commission pieces from composers, where the ensemble secures the composer's payment from private or public organizations or donors.- Commissions for public art...
for the choir.
History
The New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir began as a choralChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
course for secondary students in the 1960s with its first performance in 1967 as an established choir under the musical direction
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
of Malcolm Rickard. In 1986 Dr Guy Jansen formed the first New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir as a training ground for the (formerly) New Zealand National Youth Choir
New Zealand Youth Choir
The New Zealand Youth Choir was formed in 1979 by Guy Jansen and has subsequently been conducted by Professor Peter Godfrey and Dr Karen Grylls . As at March 2009, Dr Grylls is an associate professor at the University of Auckland...
. In 1988 Roger Stevenson was appointed Musical Director. The choir was formally established as a Charitable Trust in 1997.
Late in 2000, the choir appointed Elise Bradley as Musical Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
. For each NZSSC that she directed, Elise Bradley appointed a professional tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
ing team to assist her and also took on conducting trainees. The most notable of these conducting trainees was Andrew Withington, who in 2009 took over musical direction of the choir. The appointment of tutors by the Musical Director has since continued and contributed directly to the uniqueness of each new choir.
In 2004, the choir performed in the Oregon Bach Festival
Oregon Bach Festival
The Oregon Bach Festival is an annual celebration of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his musical legacy, held in Eugene, Oregon, United States, in late June and early July. The artistic director is German organist and conductor Helmuth Rilling and the Executive Director is John Evans,...
in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, USA. The NZSSC then toured Canada taking three first place awards (Mixed Voice Youth Choir, Youth Choir and Folk & Cultural Traditions) at the International Choral Kathaumixw in Powell River
Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, that part of the larger Georgia Strait between Texada Island and the Mainland...
. In this, the 11th biennial competition, the NZSSC earned more awards than any other choir in any year of competition over the history of the competition; a record which still stands. The 2005–2006 choir competed in the Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Choir Festival where it took the top award, “The World’s Choir” title and directly following this the choir travelled to Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
, China where it competed in the World Choir Games
World Choir Games
The World Choir Games is the largest choir competition in the world. Organized for amateur choirs from all over the world, regardless of their country of origin, race, genre of music or artistic ambitions, its motto is "Singing together brings nations together"...
, gaining a Gold Award and Champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
(Mixed Youth Choir) and a Silver Award (Folklore a cappella).
Elise Bradley resigned as Musical Director of the NZSSC in the beginning of 2007 in order to take up the position of Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the Toronto Children's Chorus
Toronto Children's Chorus
Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle,C.M. , O.Ont., the Toronto Children's Chorus has existed for thirty years and is established as one of the world's premiere choral ensembles for children, whose artistry has inspired audiences, critics and children's choirs everywhere. Over 300 Toronto-area...
. After a series of problematic events, Robert Wiremu (a past member and long-standing tutor of the choir) agreed to take on a temporary position as the Musical Director in late 2007 for the remaining year of the choir and direct during their participation in a non-competitive South American festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
tour.
In 2009, Andrew Withington, a former tutor and conducting trainee of the choir, was appointed as the Musical Director of the NZSSC. That May, Robert Wiremu resigned as a tutor of the choir.
Awards (incomplete)
| Year | Competition | Category | Award | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11th International Choral Kathaumixw | Mixed Choir | First Place | Powell River, Canada |
| 2004 | 11th International Choral Kathaumixw | Youth Choir | First Place | Powell River, Canada |
| 2004 | 11th International Choral Kathaumixw | Folk & Cultural Traditions | First Place | Powell River, Canada |
| 2006 | Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Choir Festival | Grand Prize | “The World’s Choir” | Hong Kong |
| 2006 | Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Choir Festival | Youth Choir SATB | Gold A (Winner) | Hong Kong |
| 2006 | Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Choir Festival | Folklore | Gold B (Shared Winner) | Hong Kong |
| 2006 | 4th World Choir Games | Mixed Youth Choir | Gold (Champion) | Xiamen, China |
| 2006 | 4th World Choir Games | Folklore a cappella | Silver | Xiamen, China |
Albums
- 1993/94 New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir (1994)
- Sing We Triumphant (1999)
- Pastime with Plums and Pizzazz (2002)
- Whisper You All the Way Home (2004)
- 2005/06 New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir: Choral Champions (2006)
- New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir – On Tour 2008 (2008)
- NZ Secondary Students' Choir 2009/2010 In Concert