Welcome to new NZCF Board member
29 Apr 2026
We’re pleased to announce the election of Rachel Alexander Sutherland to the NZCF Governance Board. Rachel brings over 20 years of experience as a voice specialist, choral director, and curriculum teacher in both the state and private sector and she will join the Board at our AGM on 10 May.
Rachel holds a Master of Music in Classical Performance Voice from the University of Auckland and has sung with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir since 2010. She has directed intermediate and secondary school choirs to gold awards at the NZCF Big Sing and Kids Sing Festivals, and she was the Assistant Director and Principal Vocal Consultant for the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir from 2011 to 2021.
In 2023, Rachel joined the New Zealand Choral Federation as an Outreach Mentor, working with primary and intermediate schools across the upper North Island. She also provides mentoring in association with Choirs Aotearoa NZ and is frequently invited to work with school and community choirs nationwide.
Rachel is a passionate advocate for choral music, education, and fostering a lifelong love of singing. A key driver for her is encouraging kids who discover choral music to become adults who love singing. By removing barriers and supporting passionate teachers and leaders, she is keen to help choral groups grow and flourish. Committed to fostering inclusive, collaborative, and culturally responsive choral environments, Rachel empowers singers by demystifying technique, language, and repertoire, creating dynamic and engaging learning experiences.
Her experience in choral leadership, mentoring, and education, along with a strong commitment to accessibility in choral singing across all levels will be a great asset to the Governance Board and NZCF. Rachel says she is “really looking forward to getting up to speed and being able to take this step and contribute at a governance level.”