Juliet Dreaver, our dedicated Governance Board Chair of the past four years, was awarded Life Membership last month at our Annual General Meeting.

Juliet has worked tirelessly to further NZCF’s vision of New Zealand as a Singing Nation, and our successful bids to host the (ultimately cancelled) 2020 World Symposium on Choral Music and the upcoming World Choir Games in 2024 owe much to Juliet’s passionate commitment to showcasing our art form to the nation and to the world. 

She skillfully steered the Board and our organisation through some incredibly challenging times amid the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19, including the deeply disappointing cancellation of both the World Symposium and The Big Sing in 2020. Crucially, Juliet ensured that the NZCF’s Risk Management and Business Continuity plans were robust and able to withstand a global pandemic.  

Juliet’s formal involvement with NZCF began in 2011 when she co-organised with Bea Selwood the Wellington on-field choirs for the Rugby World Cup Anthems Project. She joined the NZCF Board in 2013, took on the Vice-Chair position two years later and was elected Chair in 2018.

In 2019 Juliet had considerable input into NZCF’s successful application to Creative New Zealand to step up from the Kahikatea (Arts Development) programme to the Tōtara (Arts Leadership) programme. 

Juliet is not stepping aside altogether from a governance role with NZCF – she will continue to serve on the board of Chor24, NZCF’s subsidiary entity charged with overseeing the New Zealand-based management of the 2024 World Choir Games.  

Juliet has been a consummate leader of NZCF and leaves the organisation in excellent shape, thanks to her diligent, empathetic and thoughtful leadership. She is a truly deserving recipient of the NZCF Life Membership Award.

Click here to download the full citation