Roșie Auchinvole is a Soprano from Dunedin who has trained in classical voice for 11 years, has competed in Junior and Senior vocal competitions for that length, and has received various awards at both levels. In school she learnt under Judith Borick and in her current studies at the University of Otago she is taught by Dr Tessa Romano.
Rosie Auchinvole has participated in choral singing for many years, having been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Student Choir from 2019 – 2022 (acting as a choir leader in 2022), and she is a current member of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Her singing has given her many opportunities, such as being an RSA Scholar, performing with the Dunedin RSA Choir and participating in many local choral events, such as the Octagon Ensemble and the Southern Youth Choir.
Grace Wellik is currently studying composition at The University of Auckland and is the 2025 Young Composer in Residence for the Auckland Philharmonia, previously the 2024 Young Composer in Residence for Auckland Youth Choir. Singing with the New Zealand Youth Choir and Auckland Youth Choir, alongside training with the New Zealand Choral Federation as a Young Conductor, Wellik is a versatile musician whose work traverses a multitude of areas within the music industry. Most recently writing for Cantorum Chamber Choir and Auckland Youth Choir, Wellik explores marrying traditional classical compositional ideas and techniques with a voice that is present, magical, and undeniably New Zealand. There is a soft hopefulness to Wellik’s compositions; aiming to transport listeners into honest and nostalgic narratives. Stripping back the weight of modern life, Wellik’s music reminds us that at the core of humanity is the connections we have with others.
Born in Auckland, Olivia is a third year student at Auckland University studying a conjoint degree in Classical Voice and Italian. She was first introduced to classical music in year five under the tuition of Shelagh Richardson. She was a member of Kristin School’s premiere choir Euphony for five years under the direction of David Squire and toured Europe in 2019 to compete with the choir. In 2019 Olivia played the lead role of Flora in New Zealand Opera’s production of the Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, an experience that solidified her passion for Classical music.
Cameron was born and raised in Auckland, with his passion for music and singing in choirs beginning when he started school. That passion grew when he attended Westlake Boys High School, joining Voicemale and later Choralation during this time. While taking a gap year this year, he plans to pursue composition and develop his skills, while also tutoring maths and english as a part-time job.
Growing up in Christchurch, Rosa Elliott completed a BMus and BA at the University of Canterbury, going on to complete her MMus in Composition through the University of Auckland. Rosa’s love for singing began at Burnside High School where she sang as a soprano in Bel Canto. She continues to sing in the Christchurch Youth Choir and currently conducts the Christchurch Girls’ High School choir Cantrices. Rosa’s passion for composing for the voice was kickstarted by winning the SOUNZ Big Sing Composition award in 2015, and she has since been fortunate to have choral works performed by NZ Secondary Students’ Choir and NZ Youth Choir. In 2021 Rosa was named a category winner of the inaugural Compose Aotearoa competition and held a composer-in-residency position with Choirs Aotearoa.
Kia Ora! I am Ben, and I was born in Wellington, but am currently studying Medicine in Dunedin at the University of Otago. I love singing, and have performed with my school choir, Con Anima, as well as NZSSC 2019-2020 and many others. I love learning new music (sometimes as procrastination for my studies), and look forward to the many performances ahead!
Robin is a graduate of the University of Otago with a double degree in Law and Commerce. Born in New Jersey, Robin started his choral journey when he attended Palmerston North Boys’ High School and joined the OK Chorale under Graeme Young. Since then, he has sung with NZSSC, NZYC and Voices NZ. He was also a student under Judy Bellingham and Rebecca Ryan.
Alongside choir, Robin is heavily involved with barbershop music. He coaches the barbershop ensembles at Kristin School and is training to become a certified judge in the singing category. He also serves as a board member of Barbershop Harmony New Zealand. As an arranger, Robin frequently works with the top-performing barbershop ensembles in the country. Recently, his quartet ‘Heist’ placed 6th internationally at the NextGen Varsity Contest with two of his own arrangements.
Robin was recently admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court and will be studying a Master of Intellectual Property at the University of Auckland in 2025.
Josh was born and raised in Auckland, fostering his love of singing at Rangitoto College in The Fundamentals Choir. Since then he has gone on to sing in and with community choirs such as Harbour Voices and Camerata, as well as singing in the Auckland Chamber Choir, New Zealand Youth Choir and the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir Pool. He is currently in his final year of his Bachelors of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Auckland.
Born in Wellington, Alex is currently working towards a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance Voice at The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī. She attended college at St Matthew’s Collegiate in Masterton, during which time she sang with the NZSSC in 2019-2020. She has sung with the national choirs in collaboration with Eric Whitacre, the NZSO, Voices NZ, Gondwana Choirs and the Toronto Children’s Choir, and recently performed with the New Zealand Opera Chorus for the 2024 season of Le Comte Ory. She is excited to be the Soprano II Section Leader for this cycle.
