Choral Connect - "a source of inspiration"
1 Apr 2025
If you’re uncertain whether Choral Connect is for you, read what four participants at the 2023 conference gained from their experience. Rachel Young, Lea’aesola Vuna, Noah McBirney-Warnes and Ken Leech report on a range of learnings and benefits, inspiration and collegiality. For all, Choral Connect was a source of inspiration.
"At Choral Connect 2023, I truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with fellow choral enthusiasts, gaining fresh perspectives and inspiration from both presenters and peers. The workshops and discussions deepened my understanding of choral techniques, leadership, and the evolving role of choirs in our communities. I appreciated the chance to explore innovative approaches to repertoire and performance, which I’m excited to bring back to my choir. Most of all, the sense of camaraderie and shared passion for choral music was incredibly uplifting, reminding me of the power of music to unite and inspire."
Choral Connect began with a mihi whakatau, which was a lovely way to welcome old and new friends from outside Auckland. We were treated to concerts by local choirs, emerging choirs, and had a ringside seat to the New Zealand Youth Choir rehearsal. I appreciated learning from the international speakers who zoomed in each morning, a common thread being the potential to use choral music as a tool for social change. As well, they challenged us to think about how we can make our choirs more inclusive. I enjoyed listening to new music and stretching my own learning by taking part in the masterclass. It was a huge honour to work with Dr Rollo Dilworth. His energy and elegant style were inspiring. The other part of this conference is certainly the 'connect' aspect. It was great to chat with delegates of all ages - from high school students starting out with choral directing to experienced people looking for new ideas.
I think I have attended nearly every Choral Connect since its inception, as it has always been a source of inspiration and great learning opportunities. I come away armed with new repertoire, improved conducting technique, and new friends. In addition to the many internationally renowned NZ-based tutors, I am particularly looking forward to the conducting workshops and hearing from Dr Pearl Shangkuan and seeing how they work with our fabulous NZ Secondary Students Choir and Aotearoa NZ Academy Choir.
Choral Connect was an invaluable experience that expanded my understanding of choral conducting and vocal techniques. Through engaging workshops and discussions, I learned new strategies for building strong choral ensembles and fostering musical collaboration. I was especially pleased to work with Karen Grylls as my mentor in the conductor training group; her wealth of knowledge made the time spent with her incredibly valuable. Additionally, hearing from Rollo Dilworth, an influential American choral composer, arranger, and conductor, was inspiring and further motivated me in my choral journey. The connections I made with fellow conductors and musicians will last a lifetime, and it was also very inspiring to see older individuals join us in the beginner conductor section, showing that the joy of conducting transcends age. These experiences have inspired me to continue growing in my craft and exploring innovative ways to approach choral music.