The University of Auckland Chamber Choir
Karen Grylls ONZM,
Artistic Director and Conductor
The University of Auckland Chamber Choir was
formed in 2006 to give young singers at the
University of Auckland an opportunity to sing in
a quality chamber choral ensemble. The unique
structure of the choir sees both students and
professional-level artist practitioners performing
and working alongside each other. Most recently,
the choir performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion
with renowned English conductor Stephen Layton
and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra to
great acclaim.
The University of Auckland Chamber Choir,
is directed by Karen Grylls, ONZM, Associate
Professor in Choral Conducting at The University
of Auckland, who celebrated 30 years with the
choir in 2015.
I sang my first Messiah at 17
with the Christchurch Harmonic
Society when I was still at
school and our Music Master
encouraged me to consider
singing oratorio works in a big
choir. 2018 will see me complete
over 75 Messiah performances
and each one of them is more
exciting and thrilling than the
previous. To me, as I’m sure for
most choristers, that time of year
signals something very special
and I look forward to it with great
anticipation. It isn’t Christmas
until we have sung Messiah!
Messiah 1978. Ray Wilson, conductor, with soloists
Heather Taylor, Flora Edwards, Anthony Benfell and
Donald McIntyre. ac archives , poynton terrace
Uwe Grodd and soprano soloist Lauren Armishaw, 2017.
iain bremner .
warwick mitchell, tenor
Messiah, 2017. joanne bremner .