Mark Stamper · Music Director
Mark Stamper (born in North Carolina, US) comes to WYV with an impressive range of training and experience. As a pianist, conductor and music director he has worked with many big Broadway productions in the United States, and has directed a number of prestigious children’s and adult choirs across many genres. These include the Texas Boys’ Choir, and the Women’s Chorus of Dallas. However, his most recent posts include that of Music Director for the theatre program at Metropolitan State University and Artistic Director of the Northland Chorale and Colorado Repertory Singers. Mark now lives in Wellington with his partner, where he is the Artistic Director/Founder of the professional choir, Inspirare, directs the Wellington College and Queen Margaret College Chorales, and directs two community choirs: SYLO and FilCoro.
Joanne Hodgson · Associate Director
Jo holds Performance Certificates in Voice and Oboe and has taught music to children for nearly 20 years, bringing musical fun to hundreds of pre-schoolers as well as teaching singing to primary and secondary students around the Wellington region. A passion for musical theatre has seen Jo tour New Zealand in Evita, as well as taking on the roles of Grizabella in Cats for Wellington Musical Theatre, Mrs Noah in NZ Opera’s production of Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, and Octavia in Paul Jenden and Gareth Farr's The Nero Show at Circa. As a choral singer, Jo was a foundation member of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir and has been a member of the New Zealand Youth Choir and Voices New Zealand chamber choir. She currently sings with Nota Bene, Baroque Voices and Inspirare.
Rosemary Russell · Assistant Director
Rosemary studied piano with Rae de Lisle and has been an accompanist for a number of choirs including Wellington Youth Choir and Queen Margaret College Chorale. She has taught music for over 25 years in both primary and secondary schools and is currently HOD Music at Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt. She has worked as a composer/director with children on several recordings and creative projects and some of her compositions are on the SOUNZ website. Rosemary directed the Festival Singers for nine years and currently assists and sings in both the Orpheus Choir and Nota Bene.
Rachael Widrig · Administrator
Rachael brings to WYV her knowledge and experience as a trained teacher, along with her exceptional planning and organisational skills. She has a passion for working in the education sector and enjoys helping young people in their personal growth and educational achievement. In the past she has worked as a tutor and marker at Victoria University of Wellington. Currently, she works at Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt as a music administrator. Rachael believes music is strongly connected to development and learning and has encouraged her children to learn musical instruments during their schooling years.
Christine Argyle · Acting Chair
Christine was the founding Music Director of Wellington Young Voices and led the choir from 2013-2017. She also founded the chamber choir Nota Bene and conducted the ensemble for ten years. Christine has an LTCL diploma in Singing and studied conducting at Auckland University. She is a past member of the NZ National Youth Choir and London Symphony Chorus, and currently sings with Voices NZ Chamber Choir and Inspirare. A former secondary school music teacher and broadcaster, Christine is now the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Choral Federation.
