In conversation with Susan Densem: New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir at the World Choir Festival in Hong Kong

For director Susan Densem, the invitation is both an honour and a return. The choir last visited Hong Kong in 2018 for a previous edition of the World Choir Festival, then known as Belt and Road, and this year’s visit offers a chance to reconnect with a city that already forms part of the ensemble’s international story.

‘Being invited to the World Choir Festival in Hong Kong as Resident Choral Artists is an honour, especially during our 40th anniversary year,’ Densem says. ‘It gives us a wonderful chance to share New Zealand’s unique choral voice, while engaging with other choirs from around the world. We’re excited to perform, connect, and be part of a rich cultural exchange throughout the festival.’

A distinctively New Zealand sound

That sense of exchange is central to the choir’s artistic identity. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s only national choir for students at secondary school level, NZSSC brings together auditioned young singers from across the country for a two-year membership cycle. Its sound is shaped by geography, heritage, youthful energy and a wide range of musical backgrounds.

Densem describes the choir’s sound as ‘warm, vibrant, and expressive’, combining professionalism with the freshness of young voices. ‘We bring together youthful energy and professionalism, blending respect for cultural traditions with openness to new musical ideas,’ she says. ‘It’s a sound, and approach, that’s distinctively New Zealand.’

Local identity, global traditions

For audiences in Hong Kong, that distinctive identity will be heard through repertoire that reflects both the choir’s roots and its international outlook. The programme has been chosen to show the ensemble’s range, moving between music connected with Aotearoa New Zealand and works drawn from wider choral traditions.

‘Our musical story is grounded in our cultural heritage that reflects the beauty, spirit, and cultural richness of Aotearoa New Zealand,’ Densem explains. ‘At the same time, we embrace music from around the world and we sing in many languages. Our performances celebrate this beautiful blend of local identity and global choral traditions.’

Listeners can expect a varied programme of languages, styles and stories, but Densem hopes audiences will pay particular attention to music that reflects New Zealand’s diverse cultural voice. This includes the integration of Māori and Pasifika musical traditions, as well as traditional choreography.

Music from Aotearoa

‘Our singers come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, and this diversity is reflected in our repertoire,’ she says. ‘We perform songs in te reo Māori that draw inspiration from New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and rich cultural stories. Additionally, we sing pieces with vibrant rhythms and languages from across the Pacific, representing the voices of our diverse communities.’

For the choir, this is not simply a matter of musical presentation. It is a way of expressing a deep connection to Aotearoa while placing that identity in conversation with the wider world. Densem says the Hong Kong programme will include music that speaks specifically from, and about, New Zealand.

‘Absolutely,’ she says. ‘Our programme includes compositions that tell stories unique to Aotearoa New Zealand – reflecting our landscapes, histories, and cultures – offering audiences an authentic and emotional experience that’s uniquely ours.’

Building a national ensemble

Building a unified ensemble from singers who live in different regions and study in different schools is one of the defining challenges of a national youth choir. NZSSC gathers for one week during each school holiday across its two-year cycle, using intensive rehearsal periods to develop vocal technique, musical understanding and ensemble cohesion.

‘We focus on building their voices with sound vocal pedagogy and work to develop a cohesive, balanced and unified ensemble despite their diverse geographical backgrounds,’ says Densem. ‘We work hard to foster a strong sense of whānau – family – and trust, and aim to build strong relationships.’

That environment, she says, allows singers to feel secure enough to sing freely, while understanding that every voice is valued within the collective sound.

The value of international exchange

International exchange adds another dimension to that development. For young singers, meeting choirs from different countries can be transformative, broadening their musical horizons while also sharpening their understanding of their own culture. ‘For our singers, international exchange is incredibly enriching,’ Densem says. ‘It broadens their understanding of music and culture, helping them grow both as artists and as people. Meeting new choirs from around the world helps them appreciate different cultures and, at the same time, understand the beauty of their own heritage.’

Inspiring the next generation

As NZSSC celebrates four decades of music-making, Densem is conscious of the choir’s wider role within the choral life of New Zealand. The ensemble forms part of Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand’s pathway, alongside the New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. Many NZSSC alumni continue into those ensembles, while others go on to contribute as conductors, composers, educators and cultural ambassadors.

‘Through intensive, professional-level training and opportunities to perform internationally, we aim to equip our young singers with the skills, confidence, and artistic understanding they need to thrive,’ she says. ‘Beyond developing remarkable vocalists, our goal is to inspire the next generation of music leaders.’

For Densem, the choir’s 40th anniversary is therefore not only a moment to celebrate the past, but an opportunity to look ahead. ‘We’re incredibly proud that for four decades we have been fostering talent that carries forward our traditions while also embracing innovation and inclusivity,’ she says.

Confidence, connection and belonging

The hope is that the Hong Kong experience will stay with the singers long after the festival itself has ended.

‘We want them to come back feeling inspired and more confident as singers and individuals,’ Densem says. ‘It’s about learning new music, understanding different cultures, and making memories together that last a lifetime.’

But there is also a deeper sense of belonging at stake: connection to each other, to Aotearoa New Zealand, and to the global choral community.

For Hong Kong audiences encountering the choir for the first time, NZSSC offers a performance identity that is both local and outward-looking: a national youth choir rooted in the landscapes, languages and cultural stories of Aotearoa New Zealand, while open to the musical traditions of the wider world.

As Densem puts it, the choir’s performances combine ‘cultural richness, youthful energy, and artistry’, creating a musical experience that is vibrant, heartfelt and unmistakably New Zealand.