Join the New Zealand Youth Choir
AUDITION APPLICATIONS ARE NOW LIVE - Closes EOD Sunday 16th November 2025
What you need to know
Your Commitment to NZ Youth Choir:
When we invite you as a new member, you will be asked to commit for 2026, 2027, and 2028..
2026 & 2027 will include domestic touring and concerts.
2028 – Will include 1 – 2 Aotearoa based courses, and culminate in an international tour.
You will also be required to work on your vocal technique and NZYC repertoire between courses.
NZYC Membership 2026 – 2028 Cycle
We invite NZ based singers to audition for NZYC membership, between the ages of 18 - 23 at the time of auditioning.
What if I am under 18?
Singers aged 17 at the time of audition will be eligible to audition if turning 18 by April, In certain circumstances, we are able to accept 17 year olds into the choir.
What if I am nearly 24?
In certain circumstances, we are able to accept 24 year olds into the choir, depending on date of birth.
What if I’m a returning member of NZYC?
If you are 23 or under, you are welcome to audition for another cycle. If you are 24 and have already completed a NZYC membership term, you can choose to re-audition for a 1 or 2 year membership extension, depending on your age. Any such shorter membership terms are at the discretion of the Music Director.
What if I don’t know what I’m doing in the next 3 years?
We understand that a lot changes during your time as an NZYC member – in fact, we love to watch our members grow & thrive through new stages of their lives during our time together. However, NZYC is only as strong as the commitment of its members, and the expectation is that you will be committing to the full 3 year cycle. During your audition, the artistic team will be assessing your musicianship, but also just as importantly, how your term of commitment fits within the wider NZYC picture – ask questions and be open about your plans for the future so we can get to know you.
2025 NZYC Auditions
Requirements and Process (PDF version here)
All singers wishing to audition for the NZ Youth Choir must register before the closing date. An allocated date, time and venue will be supplied by the NZ Youth Choir Manager.
Auditions will be held in the following centres:
➢ Dunedin. Saturday 6 December
➢ Christchurch. Sunday 7 December
➢ Wellington. Monday 8 December
➢ Auckland. Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 December
If a singer is unable to get to one of these centres, a digital submission and zoom audition may be possible. Please contact Choirs Aotearoa regarding this option.
Audition candidates will be asked to complete the following:
▪ Song: Candidates will be asked to sing one of the 4 folk songs supplied.
➢ This song is to be prepared prior to the audition.
➢ Candidates should sing their chosen song with musical phrasing.
➢ The song will be performed without accompaniment of any kind.
➢ The first note and the tonic chord will be played on keyboard before being
sung.
➢ Candidates must sing the lyrics supplied with the sheet-music.
▪ Upper Range: sing a continuous ascending major scale beginning on F, till the candidate cannot sing any higher.
➢ Do not stop at the octave!
➢ Candidates may choose any vowel to sing the exercise.
➢ This will be completed with no accompaniment.
➢ The first note will be given on a keyboard.
▪ Lower Range: sing a continuous descending major scale beginning on F, till the candidate cannot sing any lower.
➢ Do not stop at the octave!
➢ Candidates may choose any vowel to sing the exercise.
➢ This will be completed with no accompaniment.
➢ The first note will be given on a keyboard.
▪ Aural Perception: determine and sing any note in 2, 3 or 4 note chords as selected by the examining staff.
➢ Eg. “Please sing the middle note in this 3 note chord”.
➢ The chord will be played on keyboard with all notes played together.
➢ The chord will be given twice before the candidate responds.
➢ Candidates may choose any vowel to sing the exercise.
➢ Several chord examples will be asked/completed.
▪ Sight Reading: Candidates will be asked to read and sing back an 8–16 bar melodic exercise.
➢ The first note of the exercise will be given on a keyboard.
➢ Candidates may take up to 30 seconds to look over the exercise before singing. Please do not sing out loud during this period.
➢ Candidates may choose any vowel to sing the exercise.
➢ Candidates may also be asked questions like: “What key is this exercise
in?”
▪ Other: The examining panel may ask candidates to complete further vocal exercises to get a greater understanding of the candidate's vocal ability.
▪ Background: The examining panel may ask questions regarding the candidate’s musical experience/background.
▪ Audition Panel: The following Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Staff will facilitate the 2025 NZ Youth Choir Auditions.
Rowan Johnston – Music Director NZ Youth Choir
Dr Morag Atchison – Vocal Consultant NZ Youth Choir
Rachel Hardie – NZ Youth Choir Manager
▪ Prior to Audition: Candidates should arrive 10-15 minutes before their allocated audition time
➢ Register their attendance with the NZ Youth Choir Manager.
➢ A preparation space will be provided, however candidates should arrive having already done some vocal warmups.
Cost
There is no fee to take part in the auditions.
There is an annual membership fee that goes towards the costs associated with running the choir’s domestic courses. The costs include travel and accommodation, venue hires, concert marketing and ticketing, tutor fees and music purchases just to name a few. The membership fees do not cover the entire costs associated with any one of our courses. The shortfall in costs we source through funding, sponsorship, donations and ticket sales.
Please note that international touring years will involve a larger singer contribution to costs.
Scholarships
You are invited to consider applying for one of the two scholarships available to support paying the membership fees; the Ben Campbell Memorial Scholarship (financial hardship) and Professor Peter Godfrey Scholarship (for singer who is also an organist or conductor).
Scholarships will open in early 2026 and application information will be sent to all choir members
AUDITION APPLICATIONS ARE NOW LIVE - Closes EOD Sunday 6th November 2025
Why should singers audition for NZ Youth Choir?
Hear it from the members of the last NZ Youth Choir:
"NZYC has been one of the most amazing, life changing and influential experiences and I would recommend it to anyone"
"You will grow as a musician and as a person"
"It is a wonderful experience and nothing like any choir they will have sung in before."
"NZYC is a whanau, and it is an honour to be a part of it. "
"Because there's no other choir quite like NZYC, you have amazing experiences, create lasting friendships and have the privilege to create high quality choral music that really moves people."
"It's an incredible experience, not only for your musicianship, but it's also so much fun"
"Great time, meet awesome people, have lots of fun with great music."
"Because there is nothing else like it!"
"It's an experience of a lifetime"
"You never know what you can achieve until you give it a go, and the possibilities with NZYC are endless."
You might also be interested in...
VOICES New Zealand, the country's premiere national choir is also currently taking applications for their next intake of singers.
"If you share our love for great choral singing and are passionate about working professionally with a group of like-minded singers on exciting repertoire, exploring the next level of choral singing and reaching the heights of choral excellence, VOICES is for you."
To find out more, click here.
