The Graduate Choir NZ celebrates 25 years

6 Aug 2026

When The Graduate Choir New Zealand held their 10^th anniversary, they published a souvenir booklet and programme that outlined their achievements in those first 10 years. It is an extraordinary list of activity, artistry and recognition that has continued over the subsequent 15 years.

In his message at the beginning of this book, Director of Music Terence Maskell MNZM says:
Some years ago, a former Chairman of the choir wrote: It is a wonderful testimony to a teacher’s inspiration when at year’s end, students ask “Please sir, can we go on singing now we’ve left school?” As humbling as this statement is, it is exactly how the choir was born. Its genesis was embodied in the passion and excitement for choral singing that was evident in numbers of singers who were about to leave school.

At the time – 2001 – Terence Maskell was teaching at Aorere College, where he conducted six choirs, and also the conductor of the Auckland Youth Choir. The Manukau City Council (as it was then) was keen to have a community choir and Shirley Syman (Aorere College Marketing Manager) had undertaken a feasibility study to understand the level of interest for a local choir in the community. All the stars were in alignment. Terence resigned from his position at the Auckland Youth Choir and on Sunday 26 April 2001 there was a formal meeting (with some singing) and the choir was born. It was a large un-auditioned group of 49 singers, comprising largely former Aorere students, some senior students and a handful of singers from other Auckland communities.

They sang with distinction at four functions that first year, including the NBR Business Awards ceremony at the Auckland Town Hall. It was here that the choir got its name - the suggestion of the organiser, who thought The Aorere Community Chorus had little to recommend it.

In their second year The Graduate Choir held auditions, they gave several performances, and they entered the inaugural NZCF The Classic Sing. They entered two choirs – the full SATB choir and a male-voice choir, both making a strong impression. In his NZ Listener review, Heath Lees said “Twelve huge, young Māori and Pacific guys sang unbelievably expressive numbers with the most amazing delicacy.
When they joined the women as a full choir at the end of the evening, it was as though choir-singing had passed the final frontier and was now right up there with the angels. Sheer technical and musical excellence.”

The Classic Sing Grand Prix was the following year in Rotorua, where the full choir won the Grand Prix trophy and the men’s choir came 2nd. Board Chair at the time of the 10^th anniversary wrote in his message “Those present were aware that we were witnessing the emergence of a group of singers with the potential to become one of New Zealand’s great choirs.”

The international judge of The Classic Sing, Janet Lincé, was so impressed with their performances she facilitated an invitation from the Association of British Choral Directors for Terence Maskell to give an address at their 2005 Convention and for the Graduate Choir to be the guest choir. And so the choir toured to Britain, performing and workshopping at the convention at Guildford Cathedral and giving other notable performances at venues including St George’s Chapel Windsor, Exeter College Oxford, Canterbury Cathedral and King’s College Cambridge. Terence’s keynote address was about aspects of NZ choral music, particularly as they relate to Pacific influences.        ^{Workshop presentation 2005 ABCD Convention}
That address and the choir’s performances of their commissioned work Karanga by David Hamilton (which uses a conch shell) made a strong impression on audiences, as did their waiata and haka.

Foundation and current members Melissa Absolum and Kriss Rapana remember the impact the tour had on the choir and audiences. Melissa said “the tour really bought everyone together, creating a lasting collegiality amongst singers.” Kriss remembers the effect that the waiata and haka had on the English audiences “There were standing ovations and we received a really warm reception.” 
                                                                                                                                   ^{St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle}               

Various reviewers have commented on the sound of The Graduate Choir. Terence acknowledges the choir’s distinctive sound and adds that this is encouraged deliberately – enveloping the strengths of its singers: “the face of the choir might be a little different from other choirs, but Māori and Pasifika singers sing with no fear, which brings a special energy and warmth.”

In 2006 the Auckland Philharmonia invited them to sing in their Christmas concert and they have performed with the orchestra every year since. They have recorded three CDs, made several recordings for TVNZ’s Praise Be, toured to different parts of the country, collaborated with other choirs and musical groups and sung at Eden Park for an All Blacks test match. And there are too many highlights to list!

Terence Maskell has been the one and only conductor and Artistic Director. But he has been supported by a list of talented accompanists, namely Antoinette Kramer, Claire Caldwell, Christina Bevan, Nicholas Sutcliffe and currently Chris Artley. Chris has been a singer in the choir since 2009, and he is both accompanist and ‘unofficial composer in residence’, having received a number of commissions from the choir. They have also had a strong set of administrators and trustees that have supported the choir.

The Graduate Choir NZ started for the benefit of a group of keen young singers. Over the years their ranks have included a significant number of members of the NZ Youth Choir, some of whom have gone on to sing with Voices NZ. The list of alumni is impressive with Pene and Amitai Pati, Isabella Moore, Julien Van Mellaerts and Filipe Manu to name a few. The choir continues to support young singers by offering choral scholarships to members for singing lessons.

So what does this amazing choir mean to its members?

Kriss Rapana – “It’s a place where we can escape from our lives. We all lead busy lives and having the opportunity to meet once a week and just sing, and create that sound, and enjoy making wonderful music - just really helps to take us away from that.”

Melissa Absolum – “We really love to sing together. I sing in Voices NZ (which meets occasionally) but I love that I’m doing something regular for consistent practice and growth – and we altos have so much fun singing together.”

Terence Maskell - “It is my outlet to create sound and beauty from
 voice. There’s a blank canvas and I have to shape something             ^{Kriss Rapana -2nd row left &} 
– it’s a challenge but also an absolute joy.”                                             ^{Melissa Absolum - front row centre}
                                                                                                                    
And if you are in the Auckland area on Saturday 26 September, Head to the Auckland Town Hall to join The Graduate Choir for their Silver Jubilee Celebration.

With thanks to Terence Maskell, Melissa Absolum and Kriss Rapana.

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