The Auckland Youth Choir, established in 1984 to serve young adult singers of Auckland, is seeking applications for the position of Choir Administrator.

It would be helpful if applicants have some or all of the following:
• Experience in events, arts and/or choir management;
• Day to day office administration experience, including electronic mail;
• Committee meeting/minute taking experience;
• Bookkeeping skills;
• Microsoft Word & Excel Spreadsheet skills;
• Can work well with a dedicated committee;
• Enjoys working with young people.

The selected applicant will work closely with our Director of Music, committee and choristers.

This is a part time position.
Remuneration will be by negotiation.
Applications and short CV should be sent to:

The Chairperson
Auckland Youth Choir
PO Box 26-304
Epsom, Auckland 1344.
Email: admin@ayc.org.nz

John Rosser - Chairperson
Janet Rossiter - Administrator
Liz Calvert - Librarian
John Houldsworth - Marketing
Emona Numanga
Oliver Rosser
Brooke Loader
Jeremy Brett

Ronnie Pankova-Karadjov remains as Director of Music

With almost 200 young musicians on stage the annual Celebration of Youth at Christmas concert originated by the AYC was a huge success with over 700 in the audience. Over 150 presents were collected for the Anglican Trust For Women And Children and for KidzFirst Hospital at Middlemore. The Aotea Youth Symphony, Auckland Boys Choir, Auckland Girls Choir, and Auckland Youth Choir made a wonderful picture as well as a wonderful sound. David Hamilton's Christmas Fanfare was a rousing start, and the audience joined into the familiar Christmas carols. A wonderful night, and one not to be missed next year.

October 2007 sees the launch of the brand new AYC website with help from Husk Creative. We have been busy working on the new look website and hope you enjoy looking through it. Watch this space for more member profiles and upcoming events!

AYC newsletter 2007 08.pdf

It was announced at the 2007 AGM that Lucille Ryan, aka Lucy Lawless, has agreed to be a patron of the AYC. Lucy was a founding member of AYC and now joins Mike Lee, Chairman of the Auckland Regional Council as a Patron of the AYC. Go Lucy!

AYC was again invited to be part of both the Dawn Ceremony of Remembrance beginning at 6.00am and the 11.00 am Civic Commemorative Service. The Dawn Service was particularly moving with an estimated 15,000 people witnessing a glorious sunrise (and even a large ocean liner rounding North Head through the early morning mist) to the accompaniment of a bugle sounding The Last Post as the lights were dimmed and the flags lowered.

A generous breakfast of muffins, pastries, apple slices, buns etc, supplied by Eve’s Pantry, refuelled us and we used the time between the services as an extra rehearsal. We had a near complete turn-out and again we earned some good publicity with an impressive performance and a worthy contribution to an important civic occasion. Well done and thanks to all.

Our June 2007 newsletter is now online detailing the AGM, Lucy Lawless, Anzac Day and noteworthy achievements from choristers. Just click this link to download it >> newsletter.pdf

The Choir is delighted to welcome Mrs Ronnie Karadjov as our new Conductor and Director of Music. Already she has displayed great enthusiasm and initiative by putting an exciting draft programme of performances and music together for 2007. Her qualifications and experience as a teacher, performer, conductor, composer and arranger are impressive and we look forward to a long and rewarding association together.

Ronnie is a native of Bulgaria where she did her musical training. At the age of 14 she was accepted into the Secondary School of Music in Sofia as a percussion student and she continued her studies at the Bulgarian Music Academy, majoring in choir conducting and musicology. She was a member of the prestigious Sofia Lady’s Chamber Choir and was hooked for life with a love for choral singing. After graduating from the Music Academy Ronnie taught Functional Harmony at the Secondary School of Music in Sofia. In 1992 she left Bulgaria for Swaziland, Southern Africa, where she spent the next 11 years working as a music teacher in a primary school and as HOD at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College and as founder and conductor of various choirs.

Ronnie came to New Zealand in 2003 as guest conductor for the Garden City Male Voice Choir (Christchurch) after which she accepted a position at Te Kauwhata College as HOD of music where she set up a thriving department. She came to Auckland 18 months ago with her husband and young son and she is currently teaching at Diocesan School for Girls where she has already made her mark by directing the Diocesan choir, Bella Cantoris, which was named Best Junior Choir at the Auckland Big Sing in 2006.

To find out even more about our new conductor, have a look at her website, www.ronmus.com. It makes impressive reading!