TENOR

Daniel Shieff is an Auckland-born baritenor studying Civil and Humanitarian Engineering at UNSW, driven by a resolve to help shape positive change in the world. Recognised as one of the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Future Leaders for 2026, and as a finalist for the Sustainability and Social Impact Award, Daniel’s engineering work centres on water and food security, designing water filtration and pump systems for use in the Solomon Islands, along with anticipatory food security services that are currently ongoing in development.

From the age of four, singing became a central part of Daniel’s life, inspired by his grandmother, Nina. Daniel’s musical heritage traces back to his Ukrainian great-grandfather, Igor, a singer and instrumentalist who played a myriad of instruments including the balalaika, bayan, and garmoshka.

Daniel sang in the King’s School Chapel Choir from 2016-2019, serving as Deputy Head Chorister in 2019. 2016 marked his first year in the King’s School Chapel Choir and in the Kids Sing, which solidified his love for choral competitions and the art of choral music. At the 2019 Kids Sing in Auckland, Rowan Johnston was the adjudicator, and he met Rowan for the very first time that year. Following his time at King’s School, he joined the choirs at King’s College, including the King’s College Chapel Choir, All the King’s Men, Cantorum, and Kappella, where he enjoyed singing in the King’s College Chapel and participating in the Big Sing. In 2024, Steven Rapana appointed Daniel as Head Chorister, and Daniel remains deeply grateful for Steven’s vocal tuition during his time at King’s College. Daniel was also involved in the CANZ choral community prior to joining the New Zealand Youth Choir, having sung with the Aotearoa Choral Academy in 2023 and 2024. Daniel sang in the Academy in 2024 when the choir earned a Gold Diploma at the World Choir Games under the direction of Elise Bradley and Rowan Johnston.

Having made the choice to broaden his horizons in Australia, Daniel currently sings in the Corde Chamber Choir at UNSW and works closely with Tim Wayne-Wright and Sonia Maddock in UNSW’s A Cappella Academy program. In 2025, Daniel sang as a Bass in UNSW’s Corde Consort, a quartet (SATB) derived from the main Corde Chamber Choir, where he sang works such as ‘Il est bel et bon’ by Pierre Passereau and ‘El Grillo’ by Josquin des Prez. In 2025, Daniel’s first year of university, he also earned UNSW’s top choral prize, the Willgoss Choral Prize for the Corde Chamber Choir.

Motivated by a deep personal calling, Daniel is excited to sing with the New Zealand Youth Choir and to represent Aotearoa with heart in his new era as a baritenor.