Conductors for 2018 are being finalised. These fine musicians were our conductors for the 2016 and 2017 Music Schools.
Rupert D'Cruze - String Orchestra Director
A musician since the age of six, Rupert grew from chorister in the Temple Church Choir, London to young organist and choirmaster.
As a student he was Principal Trombone in both the London Schools Symphony Orchestra and the European Community Youth Orchestra. His work as a professional trombone player and teacher led into conducting and further study. He was awarded the Philharmonia Conducting Prize at the Royal Academy of Music, London in 1987, was finalist and prizewinner in the Tokyo International Conducting Competition 1991 and second prize winner in the Hungarian International Conducting Competition 1992.
After a successful period conducting in Europe, Rupert now resides in Hamilton. His Conducting Experience in New Zealand is diverse, INCLUDing: Musical director of the Waikato Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Festival Chorus, Musical Director of Dalewool Auckland Brass, Auckland Philharmonia ORCHESTRA, Hamilton Civic Choir, Manukau City Symphony Orchestra and the CaNTANDAO CHOIR. For more information, check out his website at http://rupertdcruze.com/
As a student he was Principal Trombone in both the London Schools Symphony Orchestra and the European Community Youth Orchestra. His work as a professional trombone player and teacher led into conducting and further study. He was awarded the Philharmonia Conducting Prize at the Royal Academy of Music, London in 1987, was finalist and prizewinner in the Tokyo International Conducting Competition 1991 and second prize winner in the Hungarian International Conducting Competition 1992.
After a successful period conducting in Europe, Rupert now resides in Hamilton. His Conducting Experience in New Zealand is diverse, INCLUDing: Musical director of the Waikato Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Festival Chorus, Musical Director of Dalewool Auckland Brass, Auckland Philharmonia ORCHESTRA, Hamilton Civic Choir, Manukau City Symphony Orchestra and the CaNTANDAO CHOIR. For more information, check out his website at http://rupertdcruze.com/
Kathleen Mulligan - Wind Orchestra (Symphonic Band) Director
Kathleen has been involved with concert bands since her early years as a flute player in primary school. She earned her Bachelor of Music as a flute player and conductor, then studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts with a wind quintet. Next came a degree in teaching and then came her life in NZ.
Since 1989, Kathleen has developed outstanding concert bands and orchestras at the schools she’s worked in (Taumarunui High School, Kelston Girls High School, St Cuthbert’s College). She has also been musical director of numerous shows, both in schools and community. Her proudest achievement was 12 years directing Manukau Concert Band, taking it to the highest standard of community ensembles in NZ, earning consistent Gold awards and special awards at the national NZCBA Festival.
As a player, Kathleen worked with a wind trio and is now playing in shows in Whangarei. She has found herself residing in Northland at Matapouri Bay, teaching first aid with her husband, and itinerant music (flute and clarinet and sax) at Tauraroa Area School which is on its way to having a marvellous little concert band.
Kathleen is Secretary of New Zealand Concert Bands Association and was honoured with a Lifetime Membership this year for her contribution.
Since 1989, Kathleen has developed outstanding concert bands and orchestras at the schools she’s worked in (Taumarunui High School, Kelston Girls High School, St Cuthbert’s College). She has also been musical director of numerous shows, both in schools and community. Her proudest achievement was 12 years directing Manukau Concert Band, taking it to the highest standard of community ensembles in NZ, earning consistent Gold awards and special awards at the national NZCBA Festival.
As a player, Kathleen worked with a wind trio and is now playing in shows in Whangarei. She has found herself residing in Northland at Matapouri Bay, teaching first aid with her husband, and itinerant music (flute and clarinet and sax) at Tauraroa Area School which is on its way to having a marvellous little concert band.
Kathleen is Secretary of New Zealand Concert Bands Association and was honoured with a Lifetime Membership this year for her contribution.
Chalium Poppy - Choir Director
Chalium S. P. Poppy began his earliest musical training under the tutelage of Simon Preston and then, later, Stephen Darlington whilst a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford.
While still a pupil, he was accepted to study organ at the Royal College of Organists in London. Chalium accepted an offer of full tuition to study music at the Universität für Musik und darstellende in Vienna, culminating in a Masterstudium in Protestant Church Music with Honours. While in Europe, he also studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique de Lyon, the Conservatorio Di Musica in Bologna, and the Freiburg Musikhochschule. It was also during this time that he made his operatic debut as Papageno in the Czech National Opera’s production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote”.
Chalium’s unique education and experience has allowed him to enjoy an extremely lucrative career as a professional church musician, conductor, oratorio soloist, and occasional operatic singer, music commentator and teacher. He has performed as an oratorio soloist extensively throughout Europe and North America appearing alongside some of the world’s finest orchestras including the Fretwork Ensemble, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, The Freiburger Barockorchester, Les Musiciens du Louvre, and Tafelmusik. He has worked with famed early music interpreters Marc Minkowski, Ton Koopman and Christopher Hogwood.
Following a success career in Europe as a singer, Chalium relocated to North America where he took up the post of Organist & Choirmaster at one Canada’s largest cathedrals. While in Canada, he appeared as a soloist with many of Canada’s leading choirs and orchestras including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Chamber Orchestra, and the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few. He also conducted regularly for Canadian Opera Companies and his list of conducted operas include, Mozart's "Die Zauberflote", Handel's "Giulio Cesare", "Serse", "Rinaldo", Purcell's "Dido and Aneas", and Rameau's "Dardanus". He also founded his own orchestra, the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra which, while under his leadership, specialised in music of the Italian baroque. He served in Canada for six years as an Organist & Choirmaster before meeting and marrying a New Zealander.
In 2009, Chalium relocated to Mt. Maunganui where he works as a full-time musician dividing his time between engagements in New Zealand and overseas. During his short time in New Zealand, Chalium has already appeared as a guest soloist with the Tauranga Civic Choir, Hamilton’s Cantando and Civic Choirs, and Auckland’s Handel Consort & Quire, Viva Voce, Graduate Choir, as well as the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also appeared as a guest conductor for the Bay of Plenty Symphonia. Chalium regularly appears as a guest conductor and lecturer for the Royal School of Church Music in New Zealand. He is currently the Director of Music for the Anglican Parish of Mt. Maunganui. He is Musical & Artistic Director of the newly-formed Scholars Pro Musica – a chamber choir dedicated to informed performances of early music with an emphasis on stylistic excellence. Chalium has received accolades for conducting New Zealand premiers of works by Jean-Phillippe Rameau and Michael Haydn.
While still a pupil, he was accepted to study organ at the Royal College of Organists in London. Chalium accepted an offer of full tuition to study music at the Universität für Musik und darstellende in Vienna, culminating in a Masterstudium in Protestant Church Music with Honours. While in Europe, he also studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique de Lyon, the Conservatorio Di Musica in Bologna, and the Freiburg Musikhochschule. It was also during this time that he made his operatic debut as Papageno in the Czech National Opera’s production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote”.
Chalium’s unique education and experience has allowed him to enjoy an extremely lucrative career as a professional church musician, conductor, oratorio soloist, and occasional operatic singer, music commentator and teacher. He has performed as an oratorio soloist extensively throughout Europe and North America appearing alongside some of the world’s finest orchestras including the Fretwork Ensemble, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, The Freiburger Barockorchester, Les Musiciens du Louvre, and Tafelmusik. He has worked with famed early music interpreters Marc Minkowski, Ton Koopman and Christopher Hogwood.
Following a success career in Europe as a singer, Chalium relocated to North America where he took up the post of Organist & Choirmaster at one Canada’s largest cathedrals. While in Canada, he appeared as a soloist with many of Canada’s leading choirs and orchestras including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Chamber Orchestra, and the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few. He also conducted regularly for Canadian Opera Companies and his list of conducted operas include, Mozart's "Die Zauberflote", Handel's "Giulio Cesare", "Serse", "Rinaldo", Purcell's "Dido and Aneas", and Rameau's "Dardanus". He also founded his own orchestra, the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra which, while under his leadership, specialised in music of the Italian baroque. He served in Canada for six years as an Organist & Choirmaster before meeting and marrying a New Zealander.
In 2009, Chalium relocated to Mt. Maunganui where he works as a full-time musician dividing his time between engagements in New Zealand and overseas. During his short time in New Zealand, Chalium has already appeared as a guest soloist with the Tauranga Civic Choir, Hamilton’s Cantando and Civic Choirs, and Auckland’s Handel Consort & Quire, Viva Voce, Graduate Choir, as well as the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also appeared as a guest conductor for the Bay of Plenty Symphonia. Chalium regularly appears as a guest conductor and lecturer for the Royal School of Church Music in New Zealand. He is currently the Director of Music for the Anglican Parish of Mt. Maunganui. He is Musical & Artistic Director of the newly-formed Scholars Pro Musica – a chamber choir dedicated to informed performances of early music with an emphasis on stylistic excellence. Chalium has received accolades for conducting New Zealand premiers of works by Jean-Phillippe Rameau and Michael Haydn.
