Our scholars

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.

Mezzo Soprano Charlotte Secker is currently completing a Bachelor of Music with Honours in classical voice performance at Te Kōkī, New Zealand School of Music, studying with Jenny Wollerman and Carleen Ebbs.

In 2024, she was awarded the Kāpiti Chorale Scholarship and has been a Choral Scholar for Orpheus Choir for 2024/25, as well as the recipient of the NZSM Opera Award for 2025 and the Moyra Todd Scholarship for 2026.

Charlotte has performed for Parliament Commonwealth events and Victoria University's Graduation Ceremonies in 2025, as well as singing the title role in NZSM’s production of Ravel’s L’enfants et les sortiléges (2025). In 2026, Charlotte attended the New Zealand Opera School in Whanganui and has since been a chorus member of Days Bay Opera in their production of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles and has recently performed as the alto soloist for Orpheus Choir’s Mozart Requiem/Tin concert.

Charlotte looks forward to performing throughout the year as a soloist with a range of choirs, as well as in NZ Opera’s Wellington season of Marriage of Figaro and Wellington Opera’s 2026 Season of Manon.

Joseph is a baritone who is currently in his third year at the New Zealand School of Music studying classical performance, majoring in voice under the guidance of Jenny Wollerman in 2026. 

Joseph has been involved in music since a very young age, joining every choir he could and taking voice lessons since year 4. He competed in many Big Sings and managed to make it into the lower North Island Cadenza with Havelock North High School twice. Joseph’s most recent endeavours have been Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera with Wellington Opera as a member of the chorus, and playing the grandfather clock, cat, and the tree in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges for the New Zealand School of Music opera. He was also a part of Days Bay Opera’s production of The Pearl Fishers in early 2026 and is very excited to be a part of Wellington Opera’s production of Manon later in 2026.

Joseph looks forward to singing with the mighty Orpheus as both part of the choir and a scholar this year.

Francesca Fagan is a Wellington born soprano, studying towards a BMus (Hons) in Classical Voice Performance with a minor in Composition at Te Kōkī – New Zealand School of Music, studying under Jenny Wollerman, Barbara Paterson, Rosel Labone, and, in 2026, with Carleen Ebbs.

Her choral journey started at age 5 with Robert Oliver’s Young Angel Voices, followed by numerous school choirs, the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir and the Wellington Youth Choir.  She is about to begin her third season in the chorus of Wellington Opera. 

In 2025, she was one of only 8 international finalists in the prestigious Stanisław Jopek International Vocal Competition in Warsaw, taking third place in her age category.

Francesca is delighted to continue singing with Orpheus Choir in 2026, for her second year as one of the Orpheus Scholars.

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.

April is a singer from Wellington with ties to Waikato-Tainui. April is deeply interested in Māori waiata and classical music and is in her first year at NZSM studying a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance.

April grew up around the Wellington classical music scene thanks to her grandad, reviewer John Button. Taking her with him to concerts from a young age and she became completely obsessed with music. April has been singing since a young age, but started group singing in kapa haka groups and choirs growing up–singing in groups from primary school up to high school. Most recently being part of the chorus for NZ operas Monster in the maze.

She was lucky enough to be awarded the Deane Music Scholarship and is so excited to have the opportunity to learn music at such a high level. April is also very honoured, grateful and excited to be a scholar with Orpheus this year and is already amazed by all the repertoire and  performance opportunities and is excited for the 2026 season!

Soprano Eve Parker-Groves is now in her Honours year of Classical Voice Performance at Te Kōkī, New Zealand School of Music. Eve’s love of music began in primary school, where she asked for lessons, and has since become even more enamoured with classical repertoire.

After finishing her performance examinations with NZMEB and ATCL Diploma in 2022, she set off for university study, where she has participated in church choirs within Wellington, and in her local Manawatū competitions where in 2024 she received a PACANZ nomination.

After performing in the NZSM Opera last year, Eve is eager to immerse herself in as much extra-curricular musical activity as possible. She is thrilled to be a part of such a tremendous choir and excited to soak up beautiful musical experiences with Orpheus in 2026.

Lily is a second year undergraduate student studying a Bachelor of Psychology and Health at Victoria University of Wellington. But could not bear to let her passion for music go, so she made the decision to study classical performance at the NZSM in addition to her degree. Her love for singing emerged at a young age, through musical theatre productions, playing in bands, and participating in both the kids' sing and big sing with school choirs.

Lily’s biggest inspirations in singing would be her parents, music teachers & vocal coaches. All of whom have encouraged Lily to put herself out there and be more confident in her abilities as a singer.  

After taking a break whilst settling into university, Lily is very excited to be back singing in choir as an Orpheus scholar for 2026. With the hopes of getting out of her comfort zone and singing for crowds of hundreds of people that adore choral music just as much as she does.