Dr Karen Grylls CNZM Photo: Supplied
Dr Karen Grylls has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's King's Birthday Honours.
Her many achievements include Artistic Director of Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand since 1989, Music Director of the National Youth Choir from 1989 to 2011, Artistic Director of Voices New Zealand, and most recently co-Artistic Director (with Elise Bradley) of the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, which was founded last year.
Dr Grylls led the National Youth Choir to international recognition as Best Mixed Choir at the 2007 Cantonigrós International Music Festival, Choir of the World at the International Eisteddfod in Wales in 1999 and Overall Best Choir at Cantat Grand Prix the same year.
But winning choral competitions is not the most important achievement, she says.
"For me, it's about the music, it's about being a vehicle for all the qualities of the music."
Bryan Crump talked with Dr Grylls about receiving the honour, how her involvement with choirs began and if there were any particular choral works that she'd really like to conduct.
Music:
Hrusovsky, Ivan: Rytmus, excerpt - NZ National Youth Choir 1999/Karen Grylls (Trust MMT 2029)
