BACH MUSICA NZ

14/05/2026

Welcoming our guest conductor for our "Songs of Destiny" concert on Sunday 14 June - JOSÉ APARICIO 👏

José began studying music with his father at the age of 5, continuing his flute studies at Alicante’s Music Conservatoire where he graduated in 1995 having won the graduation competition and the Sociedad de Conciertos de Alicante Prize. He then played as a soloist with orchestras and in 1996 became principal flute of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Alicante and Orquesta de Camara Ciudad de Elche, touring with them both extensively.

In 1998, José moved to London to study flute, conducting and singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2004 after winning the Audience prize in the Gold Medal competition. At the Guildhall, José worked with such conductors as Sir Colin Davis, Mikhail Rostropovich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Bernard Haitink and Michael Tilson Thomas. José then performed regularly in the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain and France.

Here in New Zealand, José has regularly conducted St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand Doctors Orchestra, and is the Artistic Director of Napier Civic Choir, Festival Opera and Project Prima Volta, New Zealand Youth Opera Aotearoa, as well as Principal Conductor of the Hawke’s Bay Orchestra. José made his debut with NZSO in 2023, and will make his debut with Bach Musica in June 2026.

Book tickets for "Songs of Destiny" here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-songs-of-destiny-auckland-14-06-2026/event/2400638FB5422753

08/05/2026

Join us for our annual Conducting Workshop on Saturday 27 June, led by top choral and orchestral conductor, JOSÉ APARICIO 🎶🎻

José Aparicio studied flute, conducting and singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2004 and has worked with such conductors as Sir Colin Davis, Mikhail Rostropovich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Bernard Haitink and Michael Tilson Thomas. José performed regularly in the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain and France before coming to settle in New Zealand. He made his debut with NZSO in 2023, and will conduct a Bach Musica NZ concert on 14 June 2026.

Don't miss the unique opportunity to refine (or start) your conducting skills with a high calibre musician 🙌

Register online here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1657CQvg7CjwFhBZ6Ga3Z3d53RgsZDX_19Io_mo0Lao0/edit

04/05/2026

On Sunday 14 June at 5pm, at the Auckland Town Hall, we are presenting a stunning combination of choral works by Johannes Brahms!

José Aparicio, our guest conductor for this concert, is a native of Spain with an inspiring presence as a conductor and a musical style influenced by his experience in opera and orchestra ensembles across Europe and New Zealand 🙌

The beautiful Brahms repertoire in this concert will be complemented by the unique and seldom-performed Siegfried Idyll as well as the song cycle from Manuel de Falla's El amor brujo 🎶

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-songs-of-destiny-auckland-14-06-2026/event/2400638FB5422753

27/04/2026

Register now for our annual String Orchestra Workshop on Saturday 16 May held by our concertmaster, Yanghe Yu! 🎼🎻

Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1657CQvg7CjwFhBZ6Ga3Z3d53RgsZDX_19Io_mo0Lao0/edit

24/04/2026

What a fantastic start to the year! 🙌🎶

Thank you to everyone who came to see Bach Musica NZ perform J.S. Bach's Easter Oratorio and Reena Esmail's This Love Between Us with guest conductor, Jono Palmer, on Sunday.

Join us for our next "Songs of Destiny" concert on Sunday 14 June at 5pm, held at the Auckland Town Hall, conducted by José Aparicio!

Book tickets for our next concert here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-songs-of-destiny-auckland-14-06-2026/event/2400638FB5422753 🎟️

📸: Peter Jennings and Chris Zwaagdyk

20/04/2026

William Dart review from last Sunday's concert 👇

Jono Palmer led Bach’s Easter Oratorio with zest.

16/04/2026

Welcoming our tenor soloist for Bach's Easter Oratorio: IAIN TETLEY 🎵

Iain developed his passion for singing in England, with training from opera singer John York Skinner, and gained his music degree at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Iain has performed with many of Auckland’s leading choirs including Musica Sacra and Bach Musica NZ.

His solo performances include 1st Tenor in an octet that sang for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Taupo, baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with Auckland Choral, tenor soloist in excerpts of Handel’s Solomon alongside world-renowned countertenor Andreas Scholl, and in music by Bach and Handel accompanied by the late organist John Scott.

With City Choir Dunedin, he sang Evangelist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, tenor in Messiah, and Evangelist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion, a role he has also sung with Bach Musica NZ. With Auckland Choral he was the tenor solo in the Mozart’s Requiem at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Evangelist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion.

Iain specialised in Conducting at University. From 2005 until 2013 he was Deputy Conductor of Musica Sacra. In 2008 he combined three choirs, full orchestra and eight soloists (222 performers) in the successful Auckland premiere of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace at the Auckland Town Hall, and again for the 100th anniversary of Anzac in 2015.

He conducted the Franklin Community Choir from 2009 to 2016 and from 2012 to 2017 he was the Musical Director of the South Auckland Choral Society. In 2014 he formed Cantorum, a new choir specialising in early sacred music. Diversifying his repertoire, he conducted a concert of opera choruses and 1930s swing music in 2016 with Cantando Choir in Hamilton.

In 2018 Iain moved to Whanganui, where he took over conducting the chamber choir Schola Sacra. Notable performances included The Armed Man at the Royal Whanganui Opera House on Anzac Day in 2021. Iain sang in quite a different genre in March 2023, as the Phantom in eight performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Whanganui Opera House with local amateur dramatics society, Amdram Whanganui.

He had a busy year of singing the Evangelist in 2024, for Handel’s Brockes Passion with Scholars Baroque Aotearoa, the Bach St Matthew Passion with Auckland Choral, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Parts I-III) with Bach Musica NZ, and the Bach St John Passion in Dunedin Town Hall with City Choir Dunedin.

In 2025, he sang the Evangelist again for The Bach Choir of Wellington in the Bach Christmas Oratorio (Parts I-III and VI).

Book your tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-this-love-between-us-auckland-19-04-2026/event/2400638C9BFF21B4

15/04/2026

Check out this interview with our tabla soloist for this Sunday, Manjit Singh 👇

When tabla player Manjit Singh takes the stage with Bach Musica NZ this weekend, it will mark more than just a performance

15/04/2026

Introducing our baritone soloist for Bach’s Easter Oratorio: Blake Scanlen 🎶

Blake is a baritone, conductor, and teacher from Tāmaki Makaurau. He currently sings with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and St. Matthew’s Voices where he is Leader of the Voices. He is Artistic Director of the Neotectonic Vocal Ensemble, teaches classroom Music and English at Westlake Boys High School, and is currently Guest Conductor for Harbour Voices. Recent solo highlights include Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, J.S. Bach’s Mass in A, and Stainer’s The Crucifixion. He has previously performed as a professional guest chorister with Bach Musica NZ and is a member of the NZ Opera Chorus, making his mainstage debut in 2025 with La bohème.

Upcoming performances include conducting Haydn’s Nelson Mass with Harbour Voices, as bass soloists for Handel's oratorios Messiah (Pakuranga & South Auckland Choral; Tauranga Civic Choir) and The Triumph of Time and Truth (Handel Consort & Quire), and as guest artist with NZ Barok. He is a graduate of the University of Auckland School of Music in composition, conducting, and performance voice and recently attended the 2026 New Zealand Opera School. His teacher is Catrin Johnsson and in September this year, will be moving to the UK to pursue a Masters in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York.

Book your tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-this-love-between-us-auckland-19-04-2026/event/2400638C9BFF21B4

Photographer: Becki Moss 📸

14/04/2026

Welcoming our countertenor soloist for Bach’s Easter Oratorio: JACK DOYLE 🤩👏

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Jack Doyle is a countertenor from Auckland who completed a conjoint Bachelor of Music and Commerce at the University of Auckland in 2025, studying under the tutelage of Dr Morag Atchison and Dr Te Oti Rakena. In 2026, Jack is studying under the tutelage of Nikki Li Hartliep.

In September, Jack will commence a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music in London, where he looks forward to further developing his countertenor technique and engaging deeply within the UK’s specialist early music environment.

Jack was awarded the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Award at the 2026 New Zealand Opera School, and was awarded winner of the 2026 Nicholas Tarling Competition. In 2025, he won the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Most Promising Artist Award at the Rotorua New Zealand Aria Competition and placed third at the Northland Performing Arts Aria Competition. He was also awarded the Donald Trott Scholarship at the 2025 New Zealand Opera School. As a former member of the New Zealand Youth Choir, he toured internationally and was part of the choir’s Choir of the World victory at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod last year.

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Book your tickets now: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-this-love-between-us-auckland-19-04-2026/event/2400638C9BFF21B4 🎶

13/04/2026

Welcoming our soprano soloist for Bach's Easter Oratorio: ALANAH JONES 🙌🎵

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Alanah Jones is a soprano currently studying a Bachelor of Music Honours in Classical Voice at the University of Auckland under Dr Morag Atchison. Outside of her studies, Alanah regularly performs as a soloist, and as a chorister in the Auckland Chamber Choir and St Matthew’s Voices. In 2025, Alanah was named winner of the UoA Concerto Competition after performing solo with the Auckland Philharmonia. Additionally, she is an alumna of the 2025 NZ Opera School in Whanganui.

Alanah is currently a Dame Malvina Major Young Artist in the inaugural National Youth Opera Aotearoa programme. Next up, she will be performing Haydn’s Nelson Mass with Harbour Voices, and performing the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with NYOA. In 2026, Alanah looks forwards to finishing her Honours studies in Auckland before commencing a Master of Music at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

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Book your tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/bach-musica-this-love-between-us-auckland-19-04-2026/event/2400638C9BFF21B4