Rosie hits the right notes on world stage

After raising funds teaching local student singers, one of Blenheim’s finest voices has reached the pinnacle of choral music.

Over a whirlwind July spent on tour with the New Zealand Youth Choir, Rosie McAllister experienced the NZYC being crowned Choir of the World 2025 at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, and European Choir Games Grand Prix of Nations winners in Denmark.

“It was amazing - we set off hoping to do our best, and deep down we hoped to make it to the Choir of the World Final but at one point, we weren’t sure we’d qualify— then, to actually win was incredible”, Rosie says.

“The NZYC goes in three year cohorts, and this tour was the last for our director, David, who’s led the choir for 15 years, so we were doing it for ourselves and the country, but definitely for him.

“NZYC rehearse only three times a year, while other choirs rehearse three or four times a week - we put in a lot of work individually, and when we come together, we must be locked in so it’s impressive what we achieve.

“We made the small wins matter, like a tiny concert in Copenhagen where half the audience were New Zealanders living there completely in tears by the end, moved by the waiata and te reo Māori pieces.”

Rosie’s pathway to global singing success has many names familiar to the Marlborough music scene.

“When we moved to New Zealand, my mum was keen to get me involved as I was a musical child, so I did a lot of musical theatre with the Children’s Theatre and Duncan Whiting, then joined the Ovation choir at Marlborough Girls’ - I owe a lot of my musical success to the amazing teacher that is Robin Randall.

“Ahead of touring, I spent six months teaching at Marlborough Girls’ and leading the choir, which was so cool.

“In both national choirs, I was the only person from Blenheim so went knowing nobody and felt confident in my musicianship — I felt the opposite at first at NZYC, but you all grow together.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the Inspire Foundation. I couldn’t have competed without their support.”

Rosie found that many in the choral world find New Zealand’s sound unique, but she feels the education behind the songs means performances have more meaning behind them.

“We sing sacred music, jazz, contemporary pieces in seven or more languages but what stood out to judges was our pride, togetherness, and want to win for each other and our country.”

She says the songs they sing mean a lot to her. “Even though I’m not Samoan, Fijian, or Māori, I feel deeply connected to the songs because we learn their meanings from the families who created them. The songs never feel distant, it feels like we’re representing ourselves and representing who we are as New Zealanders.”