The Choir

Hamilton Civic Choir has delighted national and international audiences with concerts of great choral music performed at the highest musical standards since 1946.

Characterised by a heartfelt belief in the value of Hamilton Civic Choir’s mission and vision, and supported by devoted singers and audiences, talented artistic staff and dedicated Committee members, the group’s passion for sharing the thrill of live choral music has remained steadfast throughout its long, proud history. And indeed, this Choir enjoys a reputation as one of New Zealand’s finest.

Our mission is: “To continue to be Hamilton’s premiere classical choir, regularly presenting the world’s greatest choral music, at the highest possible standard, to the people of the Waikato and beyond for the mutual enjoyment and enrichment of choir and audience.”

We are committed to connecting singers, audiences, and the community through experiences with diverse choral music. And, under the artistic leadership of Elise Bradley the organisation will produce a series of concerts each year in the wider Waikato area with concert performances also in Auckland.

Being a fully auditioned choir with approximately 50 singers, we are able to perform works outside the scope of many community-based choirs. In addition to the large choral works of the great composers, usually performed with organ or orchestral accompaniment and the best national and international soloists, the choir’s repertoire includes chamber music and other shorter and more modern works.

Hamilton Civic Choir has been chosen several times to sing major choral works with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. We also sang in Carnegie Hall in 2018, as part of DCINY’s Dreamweaver concert. And in 2019 with a collaborative concert with Melbourne’s CHIME Choir to commemorate ANZAC Day.

If you are interested in helping us along our journey, please see our sponsorship options.

Elise Bradley, MNZM – Musical Director

A passionate musician, award-winning conductor, and internationally respected educator, adjudicator and clinician, Elise Bradley served for many years as the HOD Music at Westlake Girls’ High School in Auckland, New Zealand, where she founded the school’s internationally renowned choir, Key Cygnetures. She directed the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir from 2001-2007, which won numerous national and international awards. She was also a soloist and member of New Zealand’s National Chamber Choir, Voices New Zealand from 1998 – 2010. In January 2018, Ms. Bradley was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), an honour awarded in recognition of her services to Music, and just last week it was announced that she is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal in honour of her services to children’s music education in Canada.

Elise repatriated home to New Zealand at the end of 2021, after 14½ years as the Artistic Director of the Toronto Children’s Chorus. During her tenure, the Chorus recorded professionally, commissioned Canadian compositions, collaborated with numerous international and national artists, and represented Toronto and Canada on nine international and four national tours. Ms. Bradley has also received many invitations to conduct, adjudicate choirs, and present at conferences around the globe. Since her return to New Zealand, Elise has co-founded the company “Choral DirectioNZ” and the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, and has completed a number of Kodály Music Certificates for her return to the primary music classroom. She currently co-conducts Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand’s Aotearoa Academy Choir, is the Music Director of the NZCCA Senior Choir and Takapuna Grammar School’s Leonessa, all of which won gold awards at the World Choir Games 2024 in Auckland. She is also the Music Director of the Hamilton Civic Choir, Nota Bella Junior Choir at Westlake Girls’ High School, and the Ficino Primary Choirs.

Ms. Bradley is dedicated to inspiring young singers through the study of the choral art, and to helping build not only their musical abilities, but also their self-confidence and life skills. Through music, she believes that they also learn about leadership and responsibility while experiencing the special joys and friendships that participation in the choir provides.

Francis Cowan – Collaborative Pianist

Francis Cowan studied piano with Ruby Campbell and then Judith Clark at Victoria University. Following completion of his degree in Piano Performance, he trained at Wellington Teachers College where he continued to major in music.

Francis was appointed Director of Music at St Mark’s Church School in 1989.

In 1994, Francis moved to Hamilton inspired by the respected tradition of music at Southwell School. At Southwell, he trained the Boys’ Choir to international standards and devoted himself to achieving the highest possible level in all aspects of the annual Opera. This included designing and painting the sets and overseeing the artistic direction.

In 2009, Francis was appointed Director of Music at St Paul’s Collegiate School expanding his teaching experience into senior Cambridge and NCEA classes.

Following two years splitting time between St Paul’s Collegiate as Director of Vocal Performance and Norah Howell Fellow Piano Accompanist for the University of Waikato, Francis was appointed as full time Head of Collaborative Piano at the University in 2015. He has enjoyed a busy schedule of coaching and accompaniment for voice and instrumental students. In 2021, he re-joined the team of pianists for the New Zealand Opera School.

Patron

Hamilton Civic Choir is pleased to have Dean Williams as patron.