Creative ID: 762
West Auckland, Central Auckland, possibly also North/South depending on distance.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am an engaging, empathetic and inclusive practitioner. I have a wide range of experience as a creative choir director, music educator and vocal consultant. I studied at the University of Auckland and hold a Master of Music in Classical Performance Voice. I am a member of the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, having sung with them since 2010. I have also sung with the New Zealand Youth Choir and the New Zealand Opera Chorus and served as the Assistant Director and Principal Vocal Consultant of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir.
As well as performing regularly, both as a soloist and in choirs around Auckland and New Zealand, I have been the Teacher in Charge of Music and the Director of the Choral Music Programmes at a central Auckland school. I have experience working with singers (and non-singers) across upper- primary, intermediate and secondary schools and have almost 20 year experience as an itinerant voice teacher. A link to my Facebook page is available on request.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
I have 18 years of teaching experience with degrees in Performance Voice, English Literature and a diploma in secondary teaching. I have experience as Assistant Director, Vocal Consultant, soloist and chorister with New Zealand’s premier national choirs. I have directed school-age choirs to gold award winning level at both the NZCF Big Sing and Kids Sing Festivals Performing throughout New Zealand and internationally as a soloist and a member of ensembles, including Voices New Zealand and New Zealand Opera.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I have almost 20 years of teaching experience across both private and state schools across primary, intermediate and secondary. I have worked with curricular and extra-curricular programmes. I am primarily based in Auckland, but have experience working across the length and breadth of New Zealand (as well as internationally) as Assistant Director of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir and as a performing member of the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir (CANZ).
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I am passionate about being able to share my enthusiasm and knowledge more widely in the community. I want to broaden accessibility to, and engagement with group singing – whether as part of a choir, a musical theatre project or a small group/ensemble. I believe that ALL students have a voice and should be given the opportunity to use it – all we need is courage, creativity and a little determination. Singing together is about far more than just the music – it is full of vitality, fosters a sense of belonging, connection, collaboration and agency and enhances general wellbeing. I look forward to being able to take these experiences with me to inform my future endeavours to further open up and demystify the magic of group singing.