Nathaniel is from Dunedin.
He was a member of NZ Secondary Students’ Choir.
Nathaniel is studying a BMus at Otago University. He also plays the violin.
Returning choir member Lydia has been singing and performing in her towns local productions since the age of 5. Formerly a member of NZSSC, and joining NZYC in 2017, Lydia is passionate about choral music and classical singing. Growing up in Hawera, Taranaki, Lydia now lives in Wellington where she is studying in her final year towards a Bachelor of Arts, Double majoring in Criminology and Psychology. When not singing, Lydia can be found on the netball court.
Sponsored by: Cherye Bradley-Middleton 2020-2022
Nick is from Auckland.
Nick attended Westlake Boys’ High School.
He plays in a jazz band.
Carla is a voice student at Auckland University in Classical Performance.
She understudied ‘The Mistress’ for the 2016 Auckland season of ‘Evita’, plays the piano and speaks Maltese.
Carla joined NZYC in 2017.
Porirua-based soprano Karishma Thanawala is a student at Victoria University in Wellington studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce and Music, majoring in Classical Voice and Accounting. Her passion for singing is evident in Karishma’s membership in the Orpheus Choir of Wellington, the Young Woman’s Barbershop Chorus and performances at the Indian Association of Wellington at the annual Navrati and Diwali celebrations.
Cantaburian Kimberley Wood loves music and especially singing.
Studying piano and saxophone during her time at St Margaret’s College (and a bit of Spanish), she joined the Christchurch Youth Choir and later the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir for 2013-14. At University of Canterbury where she is studying towards a Bachelor of Music, she joined the resident choir Consortia. She also teaches barbershop at St Margaret’s in her spare time.
Kimberley joined NZYC in 2017.
Denzel Panama is a singer, composer and conductor, born and raised in Auckland, NZ. He is currently the Director of Senior School Choirs at St Cuthbert’s College, AKL and is also vocal coach to the choirs at King’s College, AKL. He has sung with The Graduate Choir, The New Zealand Secondary Students Choir and is currently a member of the Auckland Chamber Choir. This is his second cycle with the New Zealand Youth Choir. Denzel is currently studying for an Honours Degree in Studio Pedagogy at The University of Auckland under the tutelage of Dr. Te Oti Rakena.
Nathan is from Auckland.
He attended Dilworth School and is currently studying a BA and BMus at the University of Auckland.
Nathan was a member of NZ Secondary Students’ Choir and currently sings in Auckland Chamber Choir.
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St Matthew-in-the-City
Arthur Adams-Close will be completing his BMus(Hons) in classical voice performance with Dr Te Oti Rakena and conducting with Dr Karen Grylls at the University of Auckland in June 2020. Major performances during his time at the university includes the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro Act II (2019), ‘Le Chat’ in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (2017), and Schubert’s song cycle Die schöne Müllerin (Summer Research Scholarship recital 2019). Arthur has been a member of the NZ Youth Choir since 2016, and Voices NZ and the NZ Opera Chorus since 2018, and is a 2020 Freemasons Artist with NZ Opera. He is also an alum of the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir, the University of Auckland Chamber Choir, the Auckland Youth Orchestra, IFAC Handa NZ Singing School (as singer in 2017 and as intern conductor in 2019), and have been involved in Opera Factory performances since a young age. In 2017 and 2018 Arthur competed in the New Zealand Aria (under 21) and the North Shore Performing Arts (senior vocal) competitions with much success, including the Under-21 years NZ Aria Award.As a teacher and conductor, Arthur currently works at Saint Kentigern, St Peter’s, and Sacred Heart Colleges in Auckland, and has recently been appointed as the conductor of the Auckland University Students’ Chamber Orchestra.
Alice attended St Mary’s College and is now a student at Auckland University studying for a BMus in Voice Performance and a Bachelor of Science.
Alice performed in ‘The Divas’ at the Opera Factory and at th south Auckland Performing Arts Competitions in 2015. She is a member of the Auckland Chamber Choir and Accord.
Alice also plays piano and violin.
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Merrall & Lowry Families
