2023 Cadenza & Finale Adjudicators
We’re delighted to announce our adjudicators for The Big Sing 2023 Cadenza and Finale festivals.
The Big Sing Finale
Cairns-based vocal specialist and choral conductor, Lauren Hannay is a graduate of University of Queensland with double principal studies of Voice and Piano. She completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance at Queensland Conservatorium of Music with acclaimed singing teacher Margaret Nickson. Lauren is nationally recognised as a singing teacher and vocal coach. Her particular expertise lies in integrating sound vocal technique in the choral context. Lauren works as pianist and co-conductor of Gondwana Indigenous Children’s choir. She is also Director of Choirs at Cairns State High School where her premier choir has won the State Finals of Queensland’s biennial Choral Fanfare competition (2017, 2019, 2021).
Tofilau Niulēvāea Dr Siliva Gaugatao is an educator, choir director, composer and passionate promoter of Pacific music. He is a former secondary school music teacher and choir director in three Auckland secondary schools. He helped establish the Auckland Big Sing Leo Pasifika Award and has been its judge since its inception. Tofilau has worked with the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir and acted as a cultural advisor for the NZ Youth Choir in their recent tour of the Pacific. He is also the music director for the EFKS New Lynn Samoan Church for over 20 years.
Brent Stewart is a leading New Zealand conductor, percussionist and pianist.This year his conducting engagements include the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, Orchestra Wellington, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra and Manukau Symphony Orchestra.Brent is also the Music Director of Orpheus Choir Wellington, Assistant Conductor and Pianist of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, and Principal Percussion and Acting Section Principal Timpani of Orchestra Wellington.
Ataahua Papa joined Auckland Arts Festival as Kaihautū Māori/Director of Māori Programming and Language in August 2020, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge about tikanga Māori along with an impressive background in the arts as a practitioner, performer and more recently, an organiser. She is fluent in te reo, and prior to joining the Festival was Festival Director at Matariki Festival, as part of her role as Arts & Culture Pou Arahi Māori at Auckland Council. Working as a cultural consultant on Māori and indigenous issues, Ata lived in North America for over a decade, and has done everything from delivering powhiri on behalf of the UNDP to serving as the Māori cultural adviser and language teacher to the Pacific curator at the American Museum of Natural History (NYC) and guest starring with the First Nations Women's A Cappella Trio, Ulali.
The Big Sing Cadenza
Andrew has a PhD in Choral Pedagogy and a Masters in Choral Conducting Performance with First Class Honours. Andrew has recently returned from the United States where he was Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities and Voice Area Head at Westminster College. In 2020, he was voted “Professor of the Year” at the College. As a university professor, he has taught choirs; and courses in conducting, choral literature, diction, vocal pedagogy, voice, and teacher education. For 10 years, Andrew was Artistic Director of the prestigious New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir. He is a registered teacher, and is currently freelancing as a conductor, choral consultant, teacher educator and mentor for beginning teachers.