Otago pupils make national choir cut

Three Otago secondary-school pupils will be singing the praises of the region while touring Europe, China and the United States.

Vladimir Menza, of King's High School, Holly McPhee, of the Catlins Area School, and home-schooled pupil Jonah Lewis, of Tapanui, have been selected to represent New Zealand in the Kotuku National Choir for the next two years.

The trio are among about 30 people, aged 12-25, who will attend rehearsals later this year before touring New Zealand.

They are a mix of young leaders and at-risk musicians with limited or no access to the training and mentoring offered by the choir.

Choir founding director Sharon Thorburn said Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin had agreed to sing a composition specially composed in honour of Chinese New Zealanders who "gave their lives to build New Zealand".

The song would be performed in December during the tour of each South Island community represented in Kotuku.

The choir would then prepare for a tour of Europe, the United States and, hopefully, China next year, she said.

Each choir member would receive tuition in kapa haka, Pasifika and classical voice training from New Zealand Secondary School Choir director Roger Stevenson. Each member would also receive diplomatic etiquette training to be ambassadors for their community internationally.

"We are holistically growing the best future for New Zealand youth through excellence in music that connects with each and everyone who experiences listening to the choir," Ms Thorburn said.

"The choir is about each young person finding identity and self-worth and community."