University celebrates global success of New Zealand Youth Choir

It has been a remarkable few weeks for the New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) on its tour of Europe.

On 13 July, the choir was crowned Choir of the World at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, a title it last held in 1999.

The NZYC, which features singers aged 18 to 25, includes 12 current University of Auckland students and ten young alumni, all guided to victory by University alumnus David Squire, the choir’s conductor. Squire received the Most Inspiring Conductor award, a testament to his exceptional leadership and musical vision. He has been the choir’s music director since 2011 and was previously a chorister himself, from 1985 to 1991.

Music school senior lecturer and NZYC vocal coach Dr Morag Atchison says it was an honour to collaborate with Squire.

“His leadership has been exemplary. Exceptional on all fronts and complemented by the marvellous [deputy music director] Michael Stewart.”

Atchison says that unlike most choirs, which rehearse weekly and perform regularly, the NZYC follows a different schedule due to its singers being spread across the country.

“The choir only comes together three times a year for five days to a week,” Atchison explains. “It’s a very intense time. But we expect a lot of commitment and personal work from the singers in the intervening months.

“We have been privileged with this choir. Their focus and commitment have been outstanding. They are whānau and strive to be the best singers, the best choir, and the best representatives of Aotearoa New Zealand they can be.”

Atchison’s job as vocal coach is to mould the singers’ vocal technique into a cohesive unit and also help them on the language side.

“I coach them mainly on European languages, including English, Latin, German, French and Spanish, and help them with their own vocal development.”

Atchison has been vocal coach for the NZYC since 2007 and says she’s proud to help shape the choral sound and guide the young singers.

“Every three years, we have a new group of singers who are all so very talented and committed to choral singing. Each choir has their strengths and weaknesses, but this choir (2023-2025 NZYC) has had outstanding leadership, not only from their conductor David, but from the choir leaders Rosa Elliott and Takerei Komene.

“They have created a new tikanga for the choir, making every singer feel valued and respected, and, as a result, the music team has been able to demand the very best from the singers.” 

Elliott is now the music teacher at Christchurch's Villa Maria College and Takerei Komene is arts and cultural co-ordinator and choir director at Epsom Girls' Grammar. 

She says the way the 2025 NZYC carried themselves in all parts of the competition, on and off stage, shows “they truly are a taonga”.

“The way they show such love and pride for all their music is extraordinary, whether it is German baroque music, sacred Polish music, a spiritual, or music from Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.”

The choir’s success on their European tour began at European Games in Aarhus, Denmark, the week prior. In a competition featuring 130 choirs, they came second in the Sacred a Cappella section and were named Grand Prix champions for folklore.

“Off the back of these amazing successes, we came to Llangollen hoping to do well but not expecting to win, knowing the calibre of the choirs we were up against. However, the singers excelled and that’s how they ended up being named ‘Choir of the World’.”

Atchison says she’s incredibly proud to be part of the team and says the victory was the perfect finale for David Squire, who is ending his tenure with the NZYC after this tour.

“There is no more fitting tribute for him to be the conductor of the ‘Choir of the World’ and the winner of the ‘Most Inspirational Conductor’ at the Llangollen Eisteddfod.”