Tokowha

L J Crichton (tenor)
Matt Barris (baritone/tenor)
Tomairangi Henare (baritone)
Morgan-Andrew King (bass)
with Alex Jefferies (piano)

Be prepared to be delighted and entertained as these four talented young men share with us their love of singing. They have all studied Classical Voice at the New Zealand School of Music and first combined their talents as an ensemble in Puccini’s La Boheme. They will perform some of opera's most cherished melodies by Mozart, Offenbach, Bizet and Tchaikovsky, alongside Schubert lieder and French art songs. There will also be some beautiful Maori and Pasifika songs and a good dose of humour from this entertaining ensemble. Their accompanist will be Alex Jefferies who has worked with them at the NZSM.

Born in Samoa, LJ Crichton has won multiple awards including the Deane Endowment Trust Jonathan Lemalu Scholarship and the Prima Volta Graduates Residency. He has performed in operatic roles and as soloist with several choirs. Matthew Barris discovered his love for singing at Tawa College and has had vast experience and success with barbershop choirs. He is co-director of FilCoro – a Filipino Community Choir – and looks forward to a teaching career. Tomairangi Henare’s background in kapa haka and musical theatre led to classical singing studies and several operatic roles. He is also studying composition at the NZSM. Morgan-Andrew King is taking a double degree in music and biomedical science. From early participation in kapa haka, he toured to Asia with the NZ Secondary Schools Choir and has taken solo roles with choirs and in operas. He recently received a 2021 Waikanae Music Society Charitable Trust Scholarship.

Tokowha will visit Waikanae as part of a Chamber Music New Zealand tour and is supported by the Deane Endowment Trust. Admission will be by season ticket or door sale.