For the latest edition of Our people, we catch up with the talented Mr David Squire, choral director for Euphony, among many other musical endeavours. David has been working with Kristin students for nearly 20 years and has been leading Euphony for a good chunk of that time. His successes with Euphony are incredible, winning multiple awards and taking them to perform at competitions around the world. David is also heavily involved with other choirs and orchestras, and this year, he led the New Zealand Youth Choir to a huge success at the Choir of the World competition. Read the full interview with David below and find out more about this musical master: 

 

Could you tell us a bit about your background?
I was born in Auckland but moved to Hamilton when I was four. I grew up around the Waikato region, moving back to Auckland when I started my music degree after high school. Since then, I’ve been a high school teacher (Auckland Grammar School), and HOD Music (Westlake Girls’ High School and Manurewa High School), and for the past 20 years I’ve been a freelance itinerant teacher, based at several schools on the North Shore. I also returned to the University of Auckland to complete my Master's degree a little over a decade ago.

 

Tell us how you first got involved with Kristin?

I first worked with Kristin around 2007, when I took the orchestra for a year. Then, in 2012, I started taking Euphony.

 

What do you like most about Kristin and our students?

I love the energy of the school! There’s so much going on, yet wellbeing is at the centre of the kaupapa. The students who commit to Euphony, along with the staff and parents who support it, do so with an amazing amount of goodwill.

 

What motivates you?

Helping guide the choir towards the heart of the music. This journey sees young singers blossom as they build knowledge, confidence, vocal technique, musicianship and teamwork skills. The transformation is incredible!

 

What does your average day look like?

As a portfolio worker, my average day can be incredibly varied. Some days are my usual weekly work in schools, taking lessons or rehearsals, while others can see me adjudicating at international choral festivals around the world.

 

What are you most proud of in your time with Euphony?

The times when I’m most proud of the choir are when the singers leave the stage feeling like they gave their very best to the music. When composers from across the world reach out and tell me they’re really happy with the way Euphony sang their works, that is also very satisfying.

 

Pieter du Plessis Photography

 

Tell us about your other endeavours outside of Kristin?

I also teach singing, take classroom music and conduct choirs and orchestras at Westlake Boys’ High School, Westlake Girls’ High School and Orewa College. I’m the conductor of the Westlake Symphony Orchestra, the Voicemale choir (Westlake Boys’) and the Auckland Youth Choir. From 2011 until this year, I have also been the music director of the New Zealand Youth Choir. I’m also the choral director for the International Schools’ Choral Music Society, which has an annual festival in China. I also prepared and conducted the on-screen choir for the hit movie Tinā and, for the past two years, I have directed the choir for Synthony in the Domain. There’s never a dull moment!

 

Tell us more about your recent success in Wales?

My final tour with the New Zealand Youth Choir (NZYC) in July was definitely one to celebrate! We competed at the European Choir Games in Aarhus, Denmark, where we won the Grand Prix for Folklore, which was a huge honour. Having the New Zealand national anthem played onstage while we accepted the trophy was amazing. After that, we had concerts in London and Oxford before attending the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. This is one of the most prestigious choral festivals in the world, and the last time I was there was with Euphony in 2013, when we came 3rd in the Open Women’s Choir category! This was the fourth time the NZYC had competed at Llangollen, and we managed to advance to the Choir of the World competition after winning the Mixed Choirs category and the Folklore category. The last time the choir won the Choir of the World was in 1999, so it was absolutely thrilling to achieve this again this year! I also won the prize for the Most Inspirational Conductor, which was a humbling surprise. For those interested, a video about our win in Wales can be found here. 

 

What was your favourite subject at school?

Definitely Music! I also loved English, Social Studies and Art History.

 

Do you have a favourite (or favourites) Kristin moment?

Many of my favourite moments have been with Euphony, performing in iconic European venues – the acoustics are amazing, and seeing the girls' faces when they hear the sound is brilliant!

 

What does your ideal weekend look like? 

Juggling so many performing groups means my weekends are often very busy with rehearsals and concerts, so my ideal weekend would probably be a quiet one at home with my family, enjoying good food and wine!

 

Pieter du Plessis Photography

 

Our people’ is a regular series where we shine a spotlight on a remarkable individual who contributes to our school and our community, highlighting their unique stories and the passions that drive them. We hope you enjoy as we celebrate the incredible characters who make Kristin a special place of aroha.