About — Luminata Voices

About Us

Luminata Voices Women's Chamber Choir is a high-calibre women's choir based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, New Zealand. We are dedicated to create exceptional choral performances that celebrate the richness, artistry and power of women's voices. Through beautiful music, we provide a space where women can shine, connect and share their talents with audiences.

Our vision is to champion women's choral music through performances of high artistic standard, the commissioning of new works, professional recordings and meaningful collaborations. We are committed to growing the repertoire for women's voices while continuing to be one of New Zealand's leading women's choirs.

Luminata Voices is an auditioned ensemble, bringing together experienced singers from across Auckland. Many of our members have performed with New Zealand's leading choral ensembles and bring a wealth of musical experience to every project.

Our project-based model offers flexibility without compromising excellence. Each project typically runs for around 10 weeks, allowing singers to choose the performances that fit their schedules. We believe women shouldn't have to choose between pursuing artistic excellence and balancing the many other commitments in their lives.

Beyond the concert stage, Luminata Voices is available to perform at private, corporate, and community events. We offer a range of ensemble sizes and musical styles and are happy to tailor performances to suit each occasion.

As an incorporated society with a charitable purpose, we are grateful to the funders, sponsors, supporters and volunteers who make our work possible. If you are interested in supporting Luminata Voices through sponsorship or partnership, we would love to hear from you.

We welcome auditions from talented new singers each year. Auditions are typically held towards the end of the year. Register your interest or follow our Facebook page to stay up to date with upcoming opportunities.

What People Are Saying

“

Beautiful tones and harmonies, a great and varied repertoire, and the karanga was very special.

”

— MICHELLE K.

“

I can still remember the very first notes which made the space St Matthews in the City come alive with a tremulous ethereal energy.

”

— Andrew M.

Meet the Team

Vanessa Kay

Musical Director
Vanessa Kay is the musical director of Luminata Voices. She is also the choral director of North Shore Youth Music which includes Con Brio Choir, the North Shore Children's Choir and Songsters. She completed a BMus(Hons) in Conducting and Musicology at the University of Auckland, a Postgraduate Diploma of Secondary Teaching at Dunedin College of Education and in 2020 she completed her MMus in Conducting with Dr Karen Grylls (ONZM). She has previously been a music teacher and choral conductor at both Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls High Schools, and is currently the Head of Music at Rosmini College. Vanessa served on the Auckland committee of the New Zealand Choral Federation for six years and has been an adjudicator at The Kids Sing and the Sing Down Under Festival. Along with her many musical commitments, she is mum to three busy children and a supportive wife to her husband David, an orchestral conductor and musician.
Rachel Song

Pianist

Rachel Song is a South Korean-born New Zealand pianist who completed her MMus in classical piano performance at the University of Auckland. She received numerous awards and scholarships during her tertiary studies and has participated in various music festivals and competitions including ROSL, Wallace International music festival, Gisborne International music competition and Lee University International Piano Festival. As a dedicated collaborative pianist, she has performed extensively throughout New Zealand with various ensembles and choirs. She has built a unique connection with the North Shore Youth Music with director Vanessa Kay since 2009. As well as being a performer, she is a passionate and experienced music teacher and has been teaching privately and in institutions for over 10 years producing outstanding
students.
Cathy Bennett

Pianist
Cathy Bennett is a pianist and teacher based in Auckland. She is in demand as a teacher and accompanist, and enjoys her collaboration with the Westlake Music Programme, and in particular with the Cantare and Choralation choirs. Cathy has worked as an accompanist for the University of Auckland School of Music, and also for the New Zealand Singing School. Cathy has been working with Big Sing Finale Choirs for a number of years. As well as enjoying working with singers and choirs, she has a particular interest in working with string players. She teaches at Kristin School and at St Cuthbert’s College and has a busy private teaching studio.
Dr Karen Grylls ONZM

Patron
Karen Grylls ONZM is Associate Professor in Choral Conducting at the University of Auckland. She conducted the New Zealand Youth Choir from 1989 to 2011, founded Voices NZ in 1998 and is currently Artistic Director of three internationally acclaimed national choirs: these two and the NZ Secondary Student’s choir. From 2011 to 2013, Karen was also Artistic Director of Toronto’s Exultate Chamber Choir She received an Auckland University Distinguished Teaching Award in Music (1996), and an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to choral music (1999). She is also the recipient of two national citations for services to New Zealand music.
At the University of Auckland, Karen has established a postgraduate pathway in Conducting at the Masters and Doctoral level. Students from the university are regularly accepted into overseas courses of study and have successfully taken on high-level conducting positions specifically with the national choirs in New Zealand. Many prize-winning conductors from The Big Sing have studied with her.
Karen is much in demand as an adjudicator for competitions and festivals worldwide,
most recently in Tokyo, Bali and Taipei, the 48th International competition in Tolosa, and the Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition, Bavaria. She is sought internationally as a choral clinician and regularly conducts masterclasses and workshops in Wales, England, North America, Canada, Singapore and Australia. Since the outbreak of the pandemic online lecture appearances have included the Sydney International Series (Gondwana), Toronto, Los Angeles, Boston and Montreal. She was also regional presenter at the online World Choir Council meeting in March and serves on the NZCF Governance Board.