Freya is a 22 year old mezzo soprano from Ōtautahi, who now lives and studies in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Freya began taking singing lessons at 16 years old, and has been a member of NZSSC (2021-2022) and NZYC (2023-2025).
Freya is currently completing a BAHons in Cultural Anthropology at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, and sings with the Wellington Youth Choir.
Sam Nicholson has been a baritone with the New Zealand Youth Choir since 2023. He also sings with the Auckland Chamber Choir and plays clarinet in the West City Concert Band. Sam serves on the Governance Board of the New Zealand Choral Federation and is the Oceania Representative on the Youth Committee of the International Federation for Choral Music.
Outside of music, Sam is a Junior Barrister at Shortland Chambers and the Lead Contract Law Tutor at the University of Auckland. He graduated from the University of Auckland in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) conjoint.
Robin is a graduate of the University of Otago and the University of Auckland with degrees in Law, Commerce and Intellectual Property. Starting his choral journey at Palmerston North Boys’ High School, he has been a member of NZSSC, NZYC and Voices NZ. Singing with NZYC since 2022, Robin sang with the choir that won ‘Choir of the World’ at the International Eisteddford competition in Llangollen, Wales.
As an active arranger, Robin has had works performed in New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and the United States. His arrangements have been sung in several national barbershop championship titles, including by Pacific Connection, Manu Mātātahi and Promenade. His own quartet, Heist, placed sixth internationally at the NextGen Varsity Contest performing two of his own arrangements.
Robin is now completing a Graduate Diploma in Teaching at the University of Waikato. He leads the barbershop music programmes at Kristin School and Westlake Girls High School. Robin is also an itinerant music tutor at Kristin School and is vocal coach for Boystrous, the senior lower voices choir.
Tenor Teddy Finney Waters is in his 3rd year at the University of Otago, studying classical singing and law. He learns under Dr Tessa Romano and Judy Bellingham. Teddy recently attended the New Zealand Opera School, and has found success in competitions throughout the country. He is member of the 2026-2028 New Zealand Youth Choir, an RSA choir vocal scholar, and in his spare time, also sings with the Southern Youth Choir and the Octagon Ensemble. In 2023-24, Teddy was the choir leader of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir, and currently is the choir director at John McGlashan College, Knox College, and All Saint’s Church.
Final year Civil Engineering student at UoA. Started singing at 6 years old at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland and have sung in choirs all throughout school in Masterton and more recently in Auckland Youth Choir and Auckland Chamber Choir. Was fortunate enough to be featured in the movie TINĀ as part of the school choir. Also an avid Barbershop Quartet singer currently singing in a quartet with 2 other NZYC members, Robin and Matthew.
I am from the beautiful and heavenly Island of Samoa. My Mum is from the villages of Saleleologa, Vailoa Palauli, Malie, and Vaimoso. My Dad hails from the villages of Safotu, and Faleū Manono. My faith, family and culture are of the utmost importance to me and I would be nothing without it. I also love to sing. I am currently studying a conjoint degree in Music and Law at the University of Auckland. My singing journey started in church singing for youth, choir and different performances and events. Since then I have worked with some great people like Claire Caldwell, Johnathan Lemalu, Roderick Williams, Catrin Johnsonn, James Harrison and Wade Kernot. I was born in Australia and raised in South Auckland. I’m proud of where I come from, and eternally grateful to be part of NZYC 2026-2028.
Kia ora I’m Noah. I’m from Pukenui, a small town in the far north of Aotearoa, and I now live in Dunedin while I study. I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics, and alongside my studies I’m deeply involved in national and international youth advisory work, as well as running leadership courses and initiatives for rangatahi across the motu. I’m passionate about uplifting Pacific and Māori communities and creating spaces where young people can be heard, supported, and empowered.
I’ve been singing since I was six, and growing up in a small town meant my first choir experience didn’t start until I was 14. From there my choral journey took me to the Aotearoa New Zealand Academy Choir and then to the Southern Youth Choir all of which helped shape who I am as a singer and musician. I was also featured in Choir Games, a four‑part documentary series that follows two very different choirs one from rural New Zealand and one from New York City as they prepare for and compete at the 2024 World Choir Games, the largest international choral competition on Earth.
Outside of singing and study, I keep bees, and I’m proud to be the youngest registered celebrant in New Zealand. When I’m not conducting workshops on Zooms, rehearsing, or studying, you can usually find me somewhere between a honey frame, or a korero with someone about how we can make our communities stronger and more inclusive.
Alex comes from Christchurch, where he studies Mechatronics Engineering at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, The University of Canterbury. Alex attended Burnside High School, where he was a member of Malestrom and Magna Voce, and was a member of the NZSSC 2023-24 cycle. Alex trained under opera singer Oliver Sewell, and outside NZYC, sings with local Barbershop chorus Quantum Acoustics (2023 Silver Pan-Pacific medalist), and two quartets. He also serves as the captain of competitive robotics at UC, where he spends his time programming and tinkering with electronics. Alongside study, Alex works as a remote software developer for Swedish based company “Navigraph”.
Kezia is an 18-year-old soprano from Hamilton, currently studying under Dr Morag Atchison. She is in her second year of a conjoint degree in Classical Voice and Law at the University of Auckland, where she has achieved outstanding academic success, earning multiple scholarships and top of subjects during her first year.
She was selected for the roles of Gretel in Humperdinck’s ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and Barbarina in Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ as part of the 2026 National Youth Opera Aotearoa’s Young Artist Programme. In 2025, Kezia won the Under 21 Trophy at the Hamilton Vocal Competition and received a Very Highly Commended award for her recital at the New Zealand Aria Competition in Rotorua. She also performed as a soloist with the Auckland Youth Orchestra.
Kezia is a member of the 2026–2028 New Zealand Youth Choir cycle, the Auckland Chamber Choir, 8bit Octet, and serves as a choral scholar at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Kezia was a member of the Gondwana Chorale in 2025, touring North America and Canada as both a soloist and chorister. She was also a member of the 2023–2024 New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir. In addition to her vocal achievements, Kezia holds her ATCL diploma in violin and performed as a soloist with the Waikato Youth Orchestra in 2024.
She aspires to pursue a professional career in singing and hopes to continue postgraduate studies overseas.
Talofa! My name is Constantine Mataafa, and I am of Samoan decent, singing in the NZ Youth Choir. I’ve always grown up around singing, whether it was at church, my cousins wedding or with my siblings at home, music has definitely been a massive part of who I am and the identity that I uphold. But my choral journey began with Primary School in APPA, eventually leading me to sing in my high school choirs, Choralation and Voicemale, which I sang in right from year 9 till year 13, and in this time I fell into a deep passion for choral music as a whole. When I’m not singing in choir you’ll find me at church, on the golf course, or at University! My faith, family and friends are some of the most important things to, and they make up a huge part of why I love to sing.
