testimonialS
Hear from some of our past alumni
We are thrilled to hear from old boys of their time and memories of the choir:
Sam Mandow Godden
“My name is Sam Mandow Godden. I was a member of the Auckland Boys’ Choir from 2015-2020, from the ages of 11-17. My experiences in the choir shaped not only my voice, but my sense of community.
My time in the choir taught me so many things about breath control, harmonisation, pitch independence, and volume control. I learned to take my voice, and use it properly. What I learned was instrumental in me getting through music in NCEA, where I used vocal performance for my internal assessments, and beyond school continue to utilise what I learned during the choir as I branch outwards and look to other music-based activities.
Outside of just what I learned technically, there was a sense of community in this choir that differed from anything else that I was part of. With large groups of young, male voices sadly becoming an increasing niche, the things I had in common with the other boys in the choir differed from any of my other friends I’d met elsewhere. The choir provided me with friendships that I still cherish to this day. Going on tours, summer and winter camps, and of course all those amazing concerts I had the absolute honour of being able to perform was simply amazing.
My time in the choir gave me some of my fondest memories, and it continues to shape who I am as a person.”