Six NZ conductors selected for international exchange
7 Aug 2026
NZCF congratulates Vanessa Kay, Takerei Komene, Natasha Manowitz, Jacob Moore, Jono Palmer and Fiona Wilson on their selection for the International Conductors Exchange Programme (ICEP), a prestigious bilateral exchange developed in partnership with the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).
Each NZ conductor has been paired with one of six American conductors also selected for the exchange: Charlotte Botha, Ryan Fellman, Jeff Knutson, Joe Lerangis, Marques Ruff and Pingyi Song.
The New Zealand delegates will travel to the United States for the ACDA National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 7-10 March 2027. During their visit, their American counterparts will guide them through the conference experience and welcome them into their local choral communities for visits lasting three to five days either before or after the conference. These regional visits will provide opportunities for our NZ conductors to observe rehearsals and performances, lead workshops and classes, engage with music-making in school, university and community settings, and exchange ideas with a wide range of choral practitioners.
The exchange will then continue in New Zealand when the American delegation visits Aotearoa for The Big Sing Finale in Auckland, 26-28 August 2027. Following The Big Sing, American delegates will be hosted within local choral communities in Auckland and Dunedin. Each New Zealand host will develop a programme of activities designed to showcase local choral practice and create opportunities for them to observe rehearsals and performances and take part in seminars introducing them to this country’s unique choral culture and musical traditions.
About the six NZ conductors…
Vanessa Kay is the Musical Director of Luminata Voices, Choral Director of North Shore Youth Music (where she conducts Con Brio Choir and North Shore Songsters), and HOD Music at Rosmini College. She completed her MMus in Conducting with Dr Karen Grylls at the University of Auckland, and holds a Postgraduate Diploma of Secondary Teaching from the Dunedin College of Education. Vanessa has previously been a music teacher and choral conductor at both Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls High Schools, a music specialist at Murrays Bay Primary, and choral director of the senior choirs at St Mary’s College. She has served as an adjudicator at both The Kids Sing and the Sing Down Under Festival.
Vanessa has been paired with Charlotte Botha from Hamilton College in New York State.
Takerei Komene is a baritone, conductor, composer, and administrator working across many facets of the choral community in Aotearoa. They currently sing with the Auckland Chamber Choir, 8bit Vocal Ensemble, and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, and are a former choir leader of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Takerei directs choirs at Epsom Girls Grammar School and is the director of the Lower Voices Festival - Tama Waiata, Tama Ora. Their work as a composer has seen them collaborate with a wide range of singers, from school choirs to community-level ensembles, to professional choirs on the international stage.
Takerei has been paired with Ryan Fellman from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
Natasha Manowitz is a choral conductor and music educator based in Ĺtepoti Dunedin. She holds a BMus from the University of Auckland and a Master of Teaching and Learning from the University of Otago. Natasha is Co-Founder and Choral Director of the Dunedin Children's Choir, comprising three ensembles for singers aged 7–15. She is a classroom music teacher and leads ensembles at Logan Park High School, directs Sings Hilda at St Hilda's Collegiate School, sings with Voices New Zealand, and is studying classical voice at the University of Otago. Natasha’s work is informed by the Kodály approach, and she is passionate about inclusive choral education.
Natasha has been paired with Jeff Knutson from Waukee High School in Iowa.
Jacob Moore is a music educator, choral conductor, and musician from Auckland. As Director of Choral Music at Dilworth School, he leads a Years 7–13 programme of more than 200 singers, including the renowned tenor-bass choir Fortissimo. After a decade as a professional drummer touring internationally, Jacob took up choral conducting in 2014, studying under Dr Karen Grylls at the University of Auckland. Since then, he has developed award-winning choral programmes at Takapuna Grammar School and Dilworth, with ensembles earning success at national and international competitions and touring Australia, Austria, and the United Kingdom. He is also an active baritone, performing with various ensembles including the Auckland Chamber Choir and Voices New Zealand.
Jacob has been paired with Marques Ruff from Arkansas State University.
Dr Jono Palmer is an Auckland-based conductor and educator. He is a Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland, Director of Choirs at Diocesan School for Girls, and Musical Co-Director of the Aotearoa Choral Academy. He directs the University Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Choir, and Auckland University Student Choir. Ensembles under his direction have earned national and international recognition, including two Gold Medals at the 2015 Grand Prix of Nations and numerous awards at NZCF The Big Sing. A finalist in the 2018 London International Choral Conducting Competition, Jono holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Choral Conducting from Indiana University.
Jono has been paired with Joe Lerangis from Cornell University in New York State.
Fiona Wilson is an Auckland-based conductor and educator who serves as Head of Performing Arts at Westlake Girls High School. Under her leadership, her premier choirs, Cantare and Choralation, have earned top international honors, including victories at the Bali International Choir Festival and Interkultur’s World Choir Games. Selected for the 2023 World Symposium on Choral Music masterclass in Istanbul, Fiona was appointed inaugural Assistant Conductor for Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand in 2024. She is also co-founder of the Treble Voices Festivals and Co-director of the Aotearoa Choral Academy within CANZ. A longtime soprano with Voices New Zealand, Fiona remains a leading figure in choral music through conducting, adjudicating, and outreach.
Fiona has been paired with Pingyi Song from Stetson University in Florida.
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