Composition
NZCF runs two annual choral composition awards in conjunction with SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music.
NZCF-SOUNZ Choral Composition Competition
This competition was introduced by the New Zealand Choral Federation to mark the third millennium, with a trophy presented by NZCF Auckland Region. The competition is run in conjunction with SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music and awards a prize for the best choral piece composed by a New Zealand secondary school student.
The winning entry receives a cash prize of $250 supported by SOUNZ.
SOUNZ and NZCF also work together to facilitate either a live performance or a video recording of the winning composition for the audience of The Big Sing Finale gala concert.
The adjudicator for 2025 will be David N. Childs. Read about David here.
Entries are now open and must be received via email by Friday 16 May 2025. Click below for the entry form, criteria and regulations.
NZCF-SOUNZ Choral Composition Competition 2024 Results
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1st Prize - Jesse Wallace, Palmerston North Boys' High School for 'A Winter Evening'
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2nd Prize - Anastasia Bell, Burnside High School, Christchurch for 'The Call'
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3rd= Prize - Madeleine Christiansen, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland for 'Muse of Fire'
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3rd = Prize - Jamie Spooner, Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland for 'The Little Boy'
Highly Commended:
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Harrison Fox Maxwell, Rangitoto College, Auckland for 'The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'
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Ivan Ho, King's College, Auckland for 'Abendlied'
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Tara Yoo, Westlake Girls High School, Auckland for 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'
SOUNZ-NZCF Te Reo Māori Choral Composition Award
This award, initiated by SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, was introduced in 2021 and aims to encourage young composers to write choral settings of texts in te reo Māori. The winning composer will receive a trophy - a taonga, kindly donated by SOUNZ, in the form of a beautiful pūtōrino Te Pūoho Ki Te Rangi carved by taonga puoro player/composer and maker Tāmihana Kātene.
The winning entry receives a cash prize of $250 supported by SOUNZ.
SOUNZ and NZCF also work together to facilitate either a live performance or a video recording of the winning composition for the audience of The Big Sing Finale gala concert.
The adjudicator for 2025 will be David Tapene. Read about David here.
Entries are now open and must be received via email by Friday 16 May 2025. Click below for the entry form, criteria and regulations.
SOUNZ-NZCF Te Reo Māori Choral Composition Award 2024 Results
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1st Prize - Elisabeth Te Puni, Tawa College, Wellington for 'Te Oriori o Hine-Nui-Te-Pō'
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2nd Prize - Leilani Woodmore, Wellington College for 'Te Tangi Pōuri'
Highly Commended:
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Abi Mitchell, Westlake Girls High School, Auckland for 'Tāne Mahuta'
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Kobe Betham, St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Upper Hutt for 'Me Te Kotahitanga'
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Noah Fanene, St Andrew's College, Christchurch for 'Ka taka te ua'
