About New Zealand Youth Choir
The New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) has achieved considerable success since its formation in 1979, including winning 'Choir of the World' 2025 at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Performances in New Zealand and fourteen international tours including visits to the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, Singapore, Russia, the Republic of Korea, China and the Pacific Islands have firmly established its reputation for consistency, energy and excellence. The Choir is comprised of around fifty 18 to 25-year-old singers and operates on a 3-year audition cycle.
Historic Highlights
1979: The ‘National Youth Choir’ of New Zealand is founded by Guy Jansen. As Music Director he invites Peter Godfrey as Guest Conductor.
1982: NYC performs at Wembley with Kiri Te Kanawa during their first international tour.
1983: Prof Peter Godfrey is appointed Music Director.
1986: NYC wins youth section of global competition ‘Let the Peoples Sing’.
1988: During the 2nd international tour to Europe NYC wins Best Choir at the International Festival of Youth and Music in Vienna and two second places at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
1989: Karen Grylls became Music Director.
1992: The Choir won the Silver Rose Bowl in the ‘Let the Peoples Sing’ competition in 1992 as the best choir in a field of 26 choirs from 15 countries.
1999 NYC celebrates its 20th anniversary in Wellington with a concert with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
One of the Choir’s greatest achievements was winning the ‘Choir of the World’ title at the International Music Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. A week later they won the ‘Grand Prix Slovakia’. The tour also included Ireland, the Czech Republic, Vienna, London and Singapore.
2001: Now renamed New Zealand Youth Choir, the Choir undertook an international tour to Texas, USA.
2004: On their tour of Europe, the NZYC achieved highest marks in several categories at the 43rd Int. Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy. The Choir recorded a new CD, Gaude, which was released to critical acclaim in June.
2005: Gaude was nominated as finalist in the Best Classical Album category at the 2005 NZ Music Awards.
2007: NZYC returned from an award-winning tour through Canada, the UK and Spain, having taken podium placings at two International Choral Competitions in Llangollen, Wales and Cantonigros, Spain, including winning the Mixed Choir category.
2009: was NZYC’s 30th Anniversary. The Choir toured to Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin, Kapiti, Palmerston, Wellington, Warkworth and Auckland, reinforcing its truly national nature.
2010: On its international NZYC performs at the World Expo in Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney.
2011: David Squire becomes the next NZYC Music Director.
2013: At the end of 2013 the Choir undertook a much acclaimed three-week tour of the USA and Canada performing in Los Angeles, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York and Washington.
2014: In February NZYC performed in the NZ Festival in Wellington – ‘…this concert was a timely reminder of the quality of choral singing we have in this country.’ Dominion Post
2016: During its 2016 European Landmark Tour, NZYC won the GRAND PRIX at the 2016 IFAS in Pardubice Czech Republic and also all four categories it competed in.
2017: Performed at National ANZAC Commemorations in Wellington to 4,000 spectators and live on TV.
2018: 'Triple C' concert at Wellington Opera House with three local community choirs.
2019: 40th anniversary celebrations including joint anniversary concert with National Youth Orchestra, anniversary concert with Voices New Zealad. Release of double CD 'Hokorua' – 40 years of NZYC. Pacific Tour to Fiji, Tonga, Niue, New Caledonia and Sydney
2020: A new NZYC starts its three-year cycle. NZYC sings at the opening of NZ Parliament.
2022: NZYC performs with NZSSC, VOICES and choir reserves in Choirs Aotearoa's production of 'Carmina Burana' in July. The Choir meet and work with Eric Whitacre in September to open his concert of 'The Sacred Veil' with Voices New Zealand. The choir then embarked on their thirteenth international tour to Australia in November. Performing in Hobart, Port Arthur, Ross, Launceston, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tanunda, Perth and Sydney.
2023: NZYC's new cycle performs in September with Australia's Gondwana Chorale in Auckland.
2024: As part of the World Choir Games in Auckland, the choir performed Anthony Ritchie's 'Ururangi' in 'Matariki He Kāhui Reo', an eight-choir concert focusing on each of the stars in the Matariki Cluster.
2025: NZYC toured the Northland region, including performing a brand new commissioned Waiata-ā-ringa 'Aotearoa' by Tuirina Wehi at Watangi Treaty Grounds during Waitangi Day celebrations.
After a sold-out farewell concert, NZYC travelled to Singapore to kick off their fourteenth international tour, performing with Darius Lim & Voices of Singapore and performing in the iconic 'Garden's by the Bay' before heading to Aarhus, Denmark to take part in the Grand Prix of Nations at the European Choir Games.
NZYC won the Folklore category with a score of 97.5, and came second in the Musica sacra a capella category with 96.25 points.
The choir then performed in Oxford and London, U.K to much acclaim, before heading to Wales to compete in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
NZYC came third in the Open Choir category, won the Adult Folklore AND the mixed Choir categories, and won the coveted 'Choir of the World' trophy. A feat not seen by NZYC since 1999, this was a landmark moment for the choir, and for Music Director David Squire as he wrapped up a 14-year tenure with the choir.
A final concert in St. Albans, U.K wrapped up a monumental cycle of work for the choir, and an entire suitcase had to be purchased to carry the 18 Kilos worth of trophies back to New Zealand.
2026: Rowan Johnston is selected as the next Music Director of NZYC. The choir performs in Wellington, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, and Auckland.
Under the artistic guidance of:
2026 - Rowan Johnston, Music Director
2011 - 2025 David Squire, Music Director
1989 - 2011 Dr Karen Grylls, Music Director then Artistic Director from 2011
1983 - 1988 Prof. Peter Godfrey, Music Director
1979 - 1984 Prof. Peter Godfrey, Guest Conductor
1982 - 1987 David Wood, Assistant Music Director
1979 - 1982 Dr Guy Jansen, Music Director
and under the management of:
2016 - Arne Herrmann
2010 - 2016 Roger Lloyd
2008 - 2010 Barbara George
2002 - 2007 Jenny Jamieson
2001 - 2002 Lucy Tod
2001 - 2001 Mark da Vanzo
1992 - 2001 Jacqui Simpson
1989 - 1992 Neil Henderson
1985 - 1988 Paddy Nash
1979 - 1984 Colin Brown
