NZ Secondary Students Choir

The internationally awarded national choir for secondary school singers is back in Nelson for the first time since 2006!

Bringing their “infectious joy for music-making” to the NCMA, the choir will present a wide range of music from classical choral to gospel, jazz, modern, and music from New Zealand and the Pacific – repertoire from Eric Whitacre, Antonio Lotti, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Puanaki whānau, David N Childs and crowd favourite, a bit of toe-tapping Toto!

The choir of 53 singers, selected at nationwide auditions to join the NZSSC for a two year cycle, has had several Nelson members over the years, and this year includes Charle Rainey of Nelson College. Charle is very excited to perform in his own town and recommends you all come along! “ The repertoire that we sing in this choir is so diverse and fresh. It’s not that choral music you’d expect. The choir is one of the best sounding in Aotearoa, and we have so much fun performing the pieces. Anyone who sings in choirs or just for fun as a hobby should come and hear us perform in Nelson, especially schools kids as the performance could encourage them to audition for the choir. I’m really looking forward to performing in Nelson with this fantastic choir, and I really hope other young Nelsonians come to listen.”

Music Director Sue Densem has been with the NZSSC since 2019, through the “COVID years” and has therefore faced a lot of disruption, including two cancelled international tours. The Southern Stars Tour stands in place of the NZSSC’s tour to Tasmania, with ticketed concerts in Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch and Wānaka, and casual performances at Aoraki Mt Cook and Queenstown.

Bring the whole family to hear this exceptional, uplifting youth choir – under 12s are free (booking fee applies), and concessions available.