Choir Recording Project

Kia ora! - I’m a composer based in Hamilton, and this August I’m recording one of my original choral compositions: an acapella setting of In the Bleak Midwinter. After several years in the making, my take on Christina Rossetti’s beloved Christmas text is now ready to be shared with the world.

We’re building this project from the ground up, and I’m excited to be bringing together a small team of some of Auckland’s best choral singers to record the work at St Luke’s Church, Remuera. With your support, I’ll be able to pay the singers for their time and talents, hire a professional sound engineer and video team, and make a recording which showcases New Zealand’s choral talent to the world.

I’m deeply passionate about the rich tapestry of choral music we have here in New Zealand; if you believe in supporting our homegrown choral scene, I would greatly appreciate your support.

I’m a composer, conductor, pianist and organist based in Hamilton. For this recording, I’m joined by a small group of some of Auckland’s finest singers — drawn from some of New Zealand’s leading choirs. We’re also working with sound engineer Paul McGlashan and a professional video team from The Dispersion Group.

After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance in 2023, I’ve been working as a freelance musician — teaching, composing, performing and conducting. In recent years I’ve held composer residencies with the Auckland Youth Choir and Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand, and my choral and instrumental compositions have won national awards. Over the last couple of years, I have been building my experience as a conductor as well, working with school and community ensembles in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. 

To make this recording possible, I’m seeking support to cover four core costs:

• Venue hire (St Luke’s, Remuera): $700
• Professional sound engineer (recording + editing/mastering): $900+
• Professional video recording team (The Dispersion Group): $600
• Artist fees for singers (approx. 12 singers): ~$2,000

Every contribution goes directly toward ensuring the artists and crew are fairly paid, and that the finished product is something we can all be proud of. Any support you may be able to provide is greatly appreciated.

At the core of this project are three pillars: cultivating a library of homegrown choral works, showcasing our unique New Zealand vocal and choral talent, and fostering connections between composers, performers and recording crew.

In the Bleak Midwinter has long been one of my favourite carols, and I’m excited to share my own setting with the world, but first I need your support. After several years of drafts, rewrites, and a few local performances here in Hamilton, a professional recording will allow it to reach a wider audience across Aotearoa and beyond.

This project is also a fantastic chance to work with some of the finest vocalists in the country, to build new relationships, and to celebrate our local choral community.

More than just recording a single piece of music, this project is about helping New Zealand choral music reach a wider audience, supporting its artists and practitioners, as well as fostering new connections and collaborations. This recording project presents an exciting opportunity for me to further develop my own skills, by organising and running my own recording session, as well as highlighting the talents of my colleagues.

Later this year, I’ll be moving to the UK to continue my work as a composer and performer. Having a small library of professionally recorded pieces — especially ones created here in New Zealand— will help me stay connected to home, and take the music we’re making here out to a wider audience.