Takerei Komene - Composer in residence

Takerei is very active in the NZ choral scene as a singer, composer and conductor. They sing in the Auckland Youth Choir and New Zealand Youth Choir, and regularly perform with choirs and ensembles around the city. Previously, they were a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir’s 2017-2018 cycle.

Alongside this, Takerei is actively involved as a conductor, working primarily with secondary-level choirs. They have been the Peter Godfrey Conducting Scholar for the New Zealand Youth Choir, the Conducting Associate with the Auckland Youth Choir, and have conducted choirs at Kristin School, St Paul's College Ponsonby, Auckland Grammar School, and Takapuna Grammar School. Their choir from Auckland Grammar School performed at the Big Sing National Finale 2022 in Christchurch, where they were awarded Silver.

As a composer, Takerei has enjoyed working with many groups to create new works. They were the winner of the Douglas Mews Choral Composition Prize in 2019 for their work, Ngā Roimata o te Tūrama. In 2021, Takerei was awarded the Development Award at the University of Auckland Douglas Lilburn Trust Composition Prize for their work, Ngā Moemoea o te Ata Māhina (Dreams of Moonlight) for SSAA, Handbells and Percussion. They have enjoyed writing various commissions over the years. Their most recent work, He Tamaiti ō te Ao Tukupū, was premiered in May of 2023 for the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust's organ celebration concert featuring the Auckland Youth Choir and organist Michael Stewart.