Sing Aotearoa

Choral Streams and Plenary Singing at Sing Aotearoa

Registered Singers will have the option of choosing between three choral streams: Tui, Korimako, & Kōkako. Each of these streams will work on different repertoire to be performed in the final concert at lunchtime on Labour Day. As well, all singers will be part of the Festival Choir to perform a new work specially commissioned for Sing Aotearoa.

Choral Streams

Tui 
For those who wish to sing music that can be quickly learnt. No music-reading skills required. This stream will be led by Kate Bell.

Kate is a professional choir director, arranger, and composer. She has a Master’s in Music from the University of Auckland, majoring in composition, and sang with the University of Auckland Chamber Choir from 2008 – 2020. In 2012 she co-founded Volcanic City Voices with Steven Rapana, and she is a past musical director of Stonefields Choir and Sister Shout.  
Kate is the founder and musical director of All Together Now, a group of community choirs based in Auckland and Taupō. She is also currently a doctoral candidate, looking at the experience of community choir singers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Kate holds a New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (bilingual) Level 1. 

Korimako
For those who wish to sing music requiring a basic standard of sight-reading. This stream will be led by David Squire.

David Squire was Music Director of the New Zealand Youth Choir from 2011-2025, leading them to win the title of Choir of the World at the 2025 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, where he was also named Most Inspirational Conductor. David also directs international award-winning ensembles Voicemale (Westlake Boys High School), Euphony (Kristin School), the Westlake Symphony Orchestra, and the Auckland Youth Choir. David completed his undergraduate study at the University of Auckland, with an emphasis on conducting and composition, later graduating with a Master of Music degree with first class honours in choral conducting. He is in demand around the world as a clinician, educator, guest conductor and adjudicator. David directed the off-screen choir for the hit movie Tinā.

Kōkako
For more capable sight-readers who wish to sing more challenging music. This stream will be led by Michael Barrett.

Dr Michael Barrett is an internationally acclaimed conductor, educator, composer, and choral clinician. He was the conductor of the University of Pretoria (TUKS) Camerata and a faculty member in choral conducting at the university’s Department of Music from 2013-2025. Michael led the TUKS Camerata to great success, including winning the prestigious Grand Prix of Nations for Best Mixed Youth Choir in Riga in both 2014 and 2017. The Camerata also performed at the 2017 World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, and in March 2025, the Camerata performed as a Headline Choir at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference. As a composer and arranger, Michael has over 40 works published by Santa Barbara Music Publishers and Walton Music (USA).