Westlake’s amazing Head of Music, Fiona Wilson, has been announced as a new Associate Conductor for New Zealand’s national premier chamber choir “Voices”. Also selected as an Associate Conductor is Rowan Johnston – former Head of Music at Westlake Girls and current conductor for Choralation choir.
Fiona has been a member of Voices NZ Chamber Choir since 2006 and has previously sung with NZ Youth Choir, London’s BBC Symphony Chorus, V8, Auckland Chamber Choir and Dorian Choir. Fiona is the Director of Cantare, the premier girls choir at Westlake Girls.
“I’m delighted to accept the role of Associate Conductor under the expert tutelage of Dr Karen Grylls,” she says. “Being a member of Voices NZ has deeply informed and influenced my musical journey as a singer and conductor. The opportunity to work with Karen, who first sparked my love of choral music, is a significant and personal honour. I’m very excited to share in this initiative alongside my colleagues and look forward to developing my conducting craft at this next level with such a prestigious choir.”
Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir made its debut at the 1998 New Zealand International Arts Festival and later that year won awards at the Tolosa International Choral Competition in Spain. With its distinct New Zealand sound, performing music from Aotearoa New Zealand and infusing the qualities of its pacific origins into the classic choral repertoire, Voices NZ regularly performs at Arts Festivals around the country, collaborates with orchestras, Chamber Music New Zealand, taonga puoro and other artists across creative genres.