Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ) has just announced that Denzel Panama and Takarei Komene (Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-a-Apanui) are the recipients of the two 2026/27 conducting internships for the national choirs. Denzel, who’s from the Niuean village of Tamakautoga, will take up the Pasifika conducting internship, a signal of the national choirs’ ongoing commitment to supporting Pacific communities – and an acknowledgement of the barriers that can hinder Pacific participation. Takerei has been selected for the inaugural Māori conducting internship, which likewise recognises the gaps in visibility and representation in the conducting landscape. Both internships offer emerging conductors learning and participation experiences through mentorship, observation and podium time and by providing opportunities to work with the national choirs’ artistic and outreach teams.

“These two roles create opportunities for professional growth and also support our singers to deepen their understanding of waiata, Te Reo Māori, Pacific repertoire and languages,” says Arne Herrmann, CANZ CE, “Creating professional pathways for choral conductors in Aotearoa is essential for the wellbeing of our choral sector and for the succession planning of our national choirs. It’s also important to amplify the artistic voices of tangata whenua and Pasifika people in our choral world.”

Takerei Komene and Denzel Panama are already part of the national choirs whānau and both are current members of the premier national chamber choir, Voices New Zealand. In fact, both Denzel and Takerei have been in all three national choirs, with Takerei joining the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir as a Dilworth College student, and Denzel while he was at Kings College. Later, they progressed into the New Zealand Youth Choir followed by Voices NZ. Last year, Takerei was commissioned by the BBC in London to compose a piece for Voices NZ to perform with the BBC Singers. Titled Ranginui, the waiata premiered last November at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and marked the first time the BBC Singers had commissioned a work in Te Reo Māori.

"It’s an honour to take up this new kaupapa,” says Takerei, “I hope that any ākonga Māori and rangatahi Māori who are curious about conducting can see this as something to aim towards. As a young conductor in high school, I was one of a very few Māori in front of a choir, and hopefully in the future I will be one of many."

Alongside his performance work, Denzel is a music educator, currently working as a vocal coach and choir director at St Cuthbert’s College. In 2019, Denzel arranged and conducted the traditional Niuean pese Tau Fanau Vave Mai Kia Keriso for the New Zealand Youth Choir’s 40th anniversary tour, "I’m looking forward to developing my craft while continuing to champion Pasifika voices and involvement in the wider choral arts space as a Niuean conductor in Aotearoa." says Denzel.

“It’s exciting to welcome Denzel to this role, which is now in its third year,” says CANZ Pasifika Navigator Will Kingi, “We hope this opportunity contributes to a stronger, more connected choral ecosystem that continues to elevate Pasifika visibility and leadership, ensuring our communities are not only present but actively shaping and engaging in the future of choral music in Aotearoa.”

TAKEREI KOMENE – Māori Conducting Intern:

Takerei Komene (Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-a-Apanui) is a takatāpui conductor, singer and composer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. They sing in the Auckland Chamber Choir, 8bit Vocal Ensemble and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. Previously, they were a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir, and choir leader of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Takerei is regularly engaged as a choral conductor in secondary schools, having conducted choirs at Kristin School, St Paul’s College Ponsonby, Auckland Grammar School, Takapuna Grammar School,and currently Epsom Girls Grammar School and Westlake Girls High School. They developed the Lower Voices Choral Festival, which brings together lower-voice choirs from around Tāmaki Makaurau. The festival had a successful first outing in May of 2024, and is well on its way to become a fixture in the Aotearoa choral landscape.

As a composer, they have written works for many commissions for groups ranging from community choirs to ensembles at the professional level. In 2025, they were commissioned by the BBC Singers to write a work to be jointly performed by them and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, titled Ranginui, which was premiered in November of that year at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Their works have been performed in Australia, the US, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium, the UK, Hong Kong and all across Aotearoa.

DENZEL PANAMA – Pasifika Conducting Intern:

Denzel Panama is a singer, composer and conductor based in Tāmaki Makaurau. He completed a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Classical Performance and Choral Conducting at the University of Auckland, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Te Oti Rakena.

As a performer, Denzel has sung with a range of leading ensembles including the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, the New Zealand Youth Choir, Voices New Zealand, the Graduate Choir, and the Auckland Chamber Choir. Alongside his performance work, he is a dedicated music educator, currently working as a Vocal Coach and Choir Director at St Cuthbert’s College. His teaching practice is grounded in building strong, inclusive environments that foster both musical excellence and a deep sense of belonging for young singers.

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