Our scholars

Samuel is a postgraduate student working towards a Masters of Health Psychology at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington following the conclusion of his Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology in 2024. Although he has a passion for LGBTQIA+ mental health promotion and psychology; music has been a key facet of his life since a young age: learning piano and violin, and singing in choirs since primary school. Last year’s time as an Orpheus Scholar marked a welcome return to choral singing for the first time since high school, (Sam was in the 2017-18 cohort of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir), and Sam is enthralled to (once again) be under the tutelage of Brent Stewart as a member of the Orpheus Choir, as another excellently programmed year awaits.

Charle is currently studying a BMus degree at Victoria University, majoring in Classical Voice Performance. Charle started singing in school choirs at the age of 7, later joining the Nelson Cathedral Choir, and Chroma Chamber Choir during his intermediate and college years, where his voice developed from treble to bass. During his last two years at College, Charle joined the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir (2021-2022). It was in this choir he started to take choral singing more seriously and began thinking about studying singing after school. Charle is now lucky enough to sing with the New Zealand Youth Choir. Charle joined Orpheus in 2023, wanting to sing the interesting and fantastic repertoire that the choir offered and hoping to expand his choral CV. Enjoying being directed under Brent Stewart, Charle hopes to continue singing with Orpheus Choir for years to come, and plans to use the Scholarship to help continue develop his singing career.

Joseph is a baritone who is currently in his second year at the New Zealand School of Music studying classical performance, majoring in voice under the guidance of Jenny Wollerman, and Rosel Labone in 2025.

Music has been one of Joseph’s passions ever since he was introduced to the wiggles, and has taken singing lessons since year 3. He has taken part in any school choir he was able to join from primary through to high school, where he went to the lower North Island Cadenza with Havelock North High School’s “Future Prospect.” Although classically trained, Joe was very involved in musicals, either school productions or local theatre. His most recent musical exploit was playing Anthony in “Sweeney Todd.” Joseph’s biggest inspiration for studying classical singing is Patrick Power, who taught him singing through his senior years of high school. Joseph is looking forward to singing with the mighty Orpheus and being a part of their ranks for 2025.

Mezzo Soprano Charlotte Secker is now in her third year of classical voice performance at Te Kōkī, New Zealand School of Music. Beginning her singing at high school, Charlotte developed a passion for classical repertoire and choral works from all over the globe and has had some wonderful opportunities through Te kōkī. Alongside being an Orpheus scholar for the duration of 2024, Charlotte sang with Voix De femmes in Island Bay’s illustrious Erskine Chapel and was awarded the Kapiti Chorale Scholarship award. She looks forward to singing with them later in 2025 also. Being a Scholar for 2025, she is grateful and is delighted to join the mighty Orpheus Choir Wellington once again in the packed year ahead.

Soprano Francesca Fagan is in the third year of a BMus in Classical Voice Performance and Composition at Te Kōkī – New Zealand School of Music, studying under Jenny Wollerman, Barbara Paterson, and, in 2025, with Rosel Labone.

Her choral journey started at age five with Robert Oliver’s Young Angel Voices, followed by numerous school choirs, the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, and the Aotearoa Academy Choir. A member of the Wellington Youth Choir since 2023, Francesca was a soloist in the choir’s 2024 performance of ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’, (Hella Johnson). Francesca joined the Wellington Opera Chorus for their 2024 season of ‘Tosca’, and was a guest soloist with Cantoris in their 2023 Christmas performance of Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ and Saint-Saëns’ ‘Oratorio de Noël’.

Francesca is delighted to join Orpheus Choir in 2025, relishing the opportunity to join the power of 160+ voices in a varied symphonic repertoire.

Leilani Aaron Woodmore is a composer and singer from Wellington. With a background in both Te Reo Māori and Hawaiian language, Leilani’s music draws on a deep connection to Pacific heritage.

Composing began recently, but creativity has been part of life since childhood. Singing in a local choir from age six and learning piano soon after, Leilani developed a passion for both performing and writing music. Early compositions include a Mass for vocal trio and a piano work filled with evocative sound imagery.

A love of language also shapes Leilani’s creative voice, with a fascination for how words, culture, and sound intersect. Alongside composing, current studies include Latin, French, and Māori.

Future plans involve further study in music, with the dream of becoming a carillonist, bringing together a love of performance, heritage, and storytelling through one of Aotearoa’s most iconic instruments.

Caoimhe is a Wellington-based composer and performer, who, after completing a music degree in Jazz Performance, has come to Wellington to study composition and film scoring at the New Zealand School of Music. Along with classical and orchestral compositions, Caoimhe is an established part of Wellington’s folk and Celtic music scene, as well as a jazz composer and singer/songwriter. Recently she worked as a Music Editor on the Warner Bros. production “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”. She aspires to continue her work in Wellington’s film music industry and one day hear her compositions alongside the big screen.