An insight into Christ's College

Co-curricular Profiles

ROBERT ABURN Director of Music Robert Aburn has an extensive career teaching

NICK SUTCLIFFE Organist and Music Teacher Nick is Organist and Co-Director of Choirs and a classroom music teacher. He is also an Associate

in state and private schools throughout

Canterbury. After graduating with an honours degree in music from the University of Canterbury and diplomas

Director of Music at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Musical Director of the Christchurch Boys’ Choir, organist for the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival, and a trustee of the Christchurch Town Hall Organ. He studied harpsichord, conducting, and the organ at the University of Auckland. He also won the New Zealand Organ Performance Competition. He has been a featured organist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, premiering a commissioned organ concerto, as well as with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He has previously served as Acting Director of Music of Christ Church Cathedral, as well as Acting Director of Music at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.

in piano and singing performance from both the Royal College of Music and Trinity College London, Robert was a foundation member of the National Youth Choir of NZ. Robert believes that singing is a medium of music- making that all students can access and enjoy. Schools in which he has worked have developed a reputation for choral work and massed singing events. For five years, he was musical director of the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival, with more than 10,000 students performing over six nights. Appointed to Christ’s College in 2003, Robert has rebuilt College’s choral programme with 90–100 boys annually involved in Chapel Choir. The choir has been involved in performances of the Mozart and Lloyd Webber Requiems , and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. The chamber choir, Schola Cantorum, is a fine a cappella ensemble regularly singing at community and civic functions. Collegium, a combined 18-voice chorale from St Margaret’s College and Christ’s College, has won gold award in the finals of the Big Sing Competition and the Hutt Trophy for the best performance of a New Zealand composition. In the regional competition, the Chapel Choir has been awarded the Best Stage Presence and Schola Cantorum, the Best Male Choir in the festival. His other choirs have received multiple honours.

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