Bio

Gina Sanders

Well established in the performance, teaching and adjudication professions in NZ and internationally, Gina is an accomplished performer on the operatic stage and concert platform, having studied, performed, taught, recorded and adjudicated in Europe, UK, Asia, Australasia and the USA. Gina’s professional career began after completing seven degrees and diplomas in piano, voice, theory, musicology, pedagogy and languages (German, Italian, French and English) at Auckland and Queensland Universities and Trinity College London.

As the first NZ musician to be awarded a Rotary International Graduate Scholarship, she undertook studies in Germany, London and the USA, and has since completed 15 international tours in the past 16 years with engagements in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, often including extensive presentations of her comprehensive vocal tuition courses. Highlights have included taking the lead role in world premières in the Stuttgart Liederhalle and the Hochschule Hauptkonzertsaal, concerts in NZ embassies in Berlin, Paris and London, opening the Infiorata Festival in Genzano, Italy, a tribute concert to Renata Tebaldi in Rimini, and featuring in several festivals in Rome and the Castelli Romani region.

She has performed over 60 operatic and oratorio roles,and has appeared as a soloist with every major choral society, orchestra and opera company in NZ in addition to being a RNZ Concert studio artist. In addition to her own four CDs, she has featured in many other recordings. She continues to take major soloist roles throughout NZ, including, in 2020, a much-admired Messiah with Scholars and NZ Barok, and received high praise in reviews of the world premiere of Chris Artley’s choral masterpiece, Of Land and Sea.

Gina has directed several community and project choirs and numerous  award-winning choirs, including the popular children’s ensemble The Valley Voices, Macleans College Chorale, and was the Director of Chapel Music at King’s College for 6 years, founding the excellent chamber choir, Kappella. She has also directed The Happy Wanderers in Brisbane, and JugendlicheStimmen in Stuttgart and The Auckland Girls’ Choir.

She has been a member of IRMT(NZ) for over 35 years, and was a national executive councillor for NEWZATS for over a decade. She is a sought-after adjudicator for both national and international competitions and has frequently undertaken external examiner duties for both Auckland and Waikato Universities.

Now a Teaching Fellow at Waikato University, she continues her examining role with the New Zealand Music Examination Board. She is the Chair of the Clevedon Valley Music Foundation Trust, which seeks to assist young Aucklanders (particularly those in the Franklin and South Auckland districts) in their aspirations to become Performing Arts professionals. She is also the Patron of the South Auckland Performing Arts Competition Society.

In 2019, Gina was awarded a Local Heroes Medal at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year in Auckland for her services to the arts and the community.