Adam Jasiński - String Orchestra Director
Adam Jasiński was born in Poland and trained there as a violist and conductor, working with many orchestras in Europe. He holds the equivalent of a Master of Arts Degree and a Performance Degree in Music from the Music University in Warsaw, and was Senior Lecturer at the Łódz Academy of Music.
Adam came to New Plymouth in 1998 to take up the position of Music Director of the New Plymouth Orchestra, and since then he has very successfully overseen the constant improvement of its musical standards. For a number of years he was also the director of the Ars Nova Choir.
Adam has appeared as guest conductor with a number of groups in the wider region and is known and greatly appreciated for his outstanding musical knowledge, patience and attention to detail. He was conductor of the Symphony and String Orchestras at the Bay of Plenty Music Schools in Taupo in 2005, in Whakatane in 2006 and in New Plymouth in 2008 and 2009, and was concertmaster at the 2017 school in Whakatane.
Adam came to New Plymouth in 1998 to take up the position of Music Director of the New Plymouth Orchestra, and since then he has very successfully overseen the constant improvement of its musical standards. For a number of years he was also the director of the Ars Nova Choir.
Adam has appeared as guest conductor with a number of groups in the wider region and is known and greatly appreciated for his outstanding musical knowledge, patience and attention to detail. He was conductor of the Symphony and String Orchestras at the Bay of Plenty Music Schools in Taupo in 2005, in Whakatane in 2006 and in New Plymouth in 2008 and 2009, and was concertmaster at the 2017 school in Whakatane.
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.
Rowan Johnston - Choir Director
Rowan grew up in New Plymouth, attending Francis Douglas Memorial College. He studied performance voice and composition at Victoria University and Diploma of Teaching at Wellington College of Education. Rowan was HoD Music at New Plymouth Girls High School in the late 1990’s before moving to Auckland in 2002 where he was Director of Music at Westlake Girls High School till 2016. During his time in New Plymouth, he founded the Taranaki Youth Choir.Rowan is now a freelance conductor, adjudicator and choral clinician based in Auckland.
In 2005, Rowan founded the internationally acclaimed Choralation Choir from Westlake Girls & Boys High Schools. Under his direction, Choralation has won the coveted Platinum Award at the NZCF Big Sing National Finale seven times in eight years, including 2017, making Choralation the most successful choir in the history of the competition. In 2014, They were awarded 1st Place at the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival in Vienna where they performed in the Musikverein. In the same year, Rowan conducted members of the NZ Youth Choir for the Rolling Stones only New Zealand concert at Mt Smart Stadium.
Last year Rowan Completed a Post Graduate Diploma of Music in Conducting at Auckland University awarded with Distinction and is currently completing a Masters degree in Choral Conducting under Dr Karen Grylls. In 2017, Rowan took up the directorship of the St Cuthbert’s College premier choir, Saints Alive. This choir gained a Gold award in the 2017 NZCF Big Sing National Finale. He is regularly invited to be a guest conductor at the Australian National Choral School and is a Choral Advisor for the NZCF. Rowan sings with Voices NZ Chamber Choir and the Auckland Chamber Choir.
In 2005, Rowan founded the internationally acclaimed Choralation Choir from Westlake Girls & Boys High Schools. Under his direction, Choralation has won the coveted Platinum Award at the NZCF Big Sing National Finale seven times in eight years, including 2017, making Choralation the most successful choir in the history of the competition. In 2014, They were awarded 1st Place at the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival in Vienna where they performed in the Musikverein. In the same year, Rowan conducted members of the NZ Youth Choir for the Rolling Stones only New Zealand concert at Mt Smart Stadium.
Last year Rowan Completed a Post Graduate Diploma of Music in Conducting at Auckland University awarded with Distinction and is currently completing a Masters degree in Choral Conducting under Dr Karen Grylls. In 2017, Rowan took up the directorship of the St Cuthbert’s College premier choir, Saints Alive. This choir gained a Gold award in the 2017 NZCF Big Sing National Finale. He is regularly invited to be a guest conductor at the Australian National Choral School and is a Choral Advisor for the NZCF. Rowan sings with Voices NZ Chamber Choir and the Auckland Chamber Choir.