OUR MUSIC DIRECTORS
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THOMAS NIKORA (2016 - Current)Thomas Nikora joined Cantoris as Music Director in 2016. Under Thomas’s direction, the choir has performed a diverse repertoire of programmes; from familiar classical choral works, to contemporary theatre favourites and large works with orchestra.
Thomas grew up in Masterton, attending Makoura College where he earned the school's top Kia Manawanui award. He attended Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music under the tutelage of Dr Jian Liu. Thomas is certainly not a new face in choir circles having sung with Orpheus Choir, Nota Bene and Victoria Voices. He is the regular accompanist for Festival Singers and conducted several items on their recent C.D. "People of the Light". Thomas has also been the accompanist for several Cantoris performances in the past. Having gained further recognition as a Pianist and Conductor directing Cantoris, Thomas was principal keyboard player for Orchestra Wellington, and later took on the role of répétiteur for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Thomas also conducted the Tawa Community Orchestra, was the accompanist for NZSM, music director for St. Peter’s on Willis, and more recently, founder and musical director for the St. Peter’s Orchestra. Thomas' musical interests include musical theatre, opera, late Romantic composers and contemporary works. He aspires to one day conduct orchestral, choral works internationally with various other ensembles, and is committed to developing and progressing music in the community and professional groups. |
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BRUCE CASH (2014-2015)Bruce Cash directed the Choir from 2014-2015.
Cantoris welcomed Bruce Cash as Music Director for 2015. Bruce Cash is an experienced choir director who has recently returned to New Zealand after working overseas for many years. He has directed choirs and orchestras in England, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. He is also an accomplished performer on organ and harpsichord. |
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DONALD MAURICE (2014)We were delighted to welcome Donald Maurice as Music Director for the 1st half of 2014.
Donald was seeking to develop new pathways for himself as a director, including choral work, so it was a great opportunity for the choir to work with a very high calibre performer and director. Donald had a very exciting programme lined up for us: Laurence Sherr - Fugitive Footsteps and Richard Fuchs's "Vom Judischen Schicksal" World premiere as part of WW2 Music Suppression Conference. More on Donald can be found at donaldmaurice.org. |
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BRIAN O'REGAN (2013)Hailing from Wicklow, Ireland, Brian O'Regan was our Guest Director for 2013 while he was on a working holiday in New Zealand.
Brian was awarded a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours Degree), Cork School of Music, Cork, Ireland in June 2009. His studies included an Erasmus Exchange Year at the University for Music and Dramatic Arts, Graz, Austria. Upon graduating, Brian was appointed as Director of Music for the Redemptorist Church, Limerick, Ireland, a post he held until 2011. During this time, he was also Co-founder, Director & Music Teacher of the Redemptorist Centre of Music, Limerick, Ireland as well as Deputy Percussionist: RTE Concert Orchestra, Dublin, Ireland. Brian has played with worldwide orchestras such as the European Union Youth Orchestra, Wiener Jeunesse Orchester, Deutsch-Skandinavische Jugend- Philharmonie, National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble in venues as prestigious as the Berlin Philharmonie. Since 2020, Brian has been the Artistic Director at the Whale Theatre in Greystones, Ireland. He is also the Founder and Director of the Arts Leaders Associates in Wicklow, Ireland. |
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RICHARD APPERLEY (2011-2012)Richard was as Music Director in Cantoris from September 2011 to 2012.
Richard Apperley was at the forefront of New Zealand’s younger generation of liturgical organists, recitalists and choral conductors. He is currently the Assistant Director of Music at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, where he is responsible for accompanying services and assisting with the direction of the cathedral’s choirs. Alongside his work at the cathedral, Richard is also co-director and engineer for his audio production company, Hadfield Audio – a specialist location recording company with a focus on choral and organ music. Richard has a passion for Anglican psalmody, and has led the publication of new psalters at both the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul and Lincoln Cathedral. He is also a keen promoter of New Zealand organ music. |
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RACHEL HYDE (2005-2011)Rachel directed Cantoris from 2005 to 2011. The choir has deeply appreciated her vibrant musicality and challenging repertoire and especially our new performance format taking choral music 'out of the box'. Rachel has helped to strengthen the choirs roots for us to build on in the years to come. Thank you!
Rachel first picked up a baton aged 15 and spent a few years learning the trade at the mercy of school children. At 18 she worked at her high school for a year running the music programme and conducting various ensembles. This led to an invitation to conduct a chamber performance with Sandwell Sinfonia, eventually becoming the orchestra’s Music Director in 1995. In 2000 Rachel was appointed Music Director of Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra. From 2001, she was guest conductor of the Wyre Forest Symphony Orchestra and was appointed guest conductor of the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra prior to moving to New Zealand to work for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In 2005 Rachel ventured into the world of choral conducting with her appointment as Music Director of Cantoris. She was a regular guest conductor for Wellington Chamber Orchestra, and in 2008 the founded the Music Director of Schola Sinfonica, a children’s string orchestra aimed at teaching young musicians the joy of orchestral membership. Rachel worked for the NZSO for 6 years and was Music Director of The Glamaphones for several before returning to the UK in 2024. |
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MICHAEL VINTEN (1995-2005)Michael Vinten was appointed to the post of Music Director mid-1995 and conducted the choir from 1995 to 2005.
Michael had directed several other groups including the Wellington City Opera chorus and the Lower Hutt Concert Orchestra, and lectured at Wellington Polytechnic’s Conservatorium of Music. He has conducted for Hamilton Operatic Society, Hawke’s Bay Opera, Wanganui Opera, and Massey University’s Conservatorium of Music, the New Zealand School of Music, Boutique Opera and Days Bay Opera. He has also conducted many New Zealand orchestras, including Orchestra Wellington, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Sinfonia. Michael also conducted the New Zealand Youth Orchestra, the Wellington Youth Orchestra, and the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta. He is a composer and has works recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and was the President of The New Zealand Opera Society. |
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Peter Godfrey CBE (1992-1993)Professor Peter Godfrey CBE directed the choir from 1992 to 1993.
From the Fen district of England, Peter came to New Zealand in 1958 where he lectured in music at Auckland University, and was the organist at the Anglican Cathedral. In 1982 Peter was invited to become organist of the Wellington Cathedral and was also appointed conductor of the Orpheus Choir. In 1985 he founded the New Zealand Choral Federation and Choral Foundation at Trinity College, Melbourne in 1989. Often called the "Father of New Zealand choral music", Peter continued to work with choirs after retirement right up to 2006. For his contribution to music, Peter received an MBE in 1978, a CBE in 1988, and Professor Emeritus at Auckland University in 1982. |
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Robert Oliver QSM (1971-1991)Robert Oliver QSM directed the choir from 1971 to 1991.
A freelance musician, tenor, viola da gamba player, and specialist in early music, Robert was awarded a QSM (the Queen's Service Medal) for his work with music, in particular with Cantoris and the first baroque performance on Messiah. Over the 1970s and 19080s, Robert was a member of the Troubadours and Ensemble Dufay. Robert also led the first original instrument performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Australasia. In 2013, Robert founded Palliser Viols, New Zealand’s only professional consort. Robert was the Director of Music at St Mary of the Angels Church for 20 years until 2019 and is now retired. Robert is also a life member of Cantoris. |