About Us

Musical Director – Anita Banbury

Since February 2018 Cantorum has been working under the leadership of Anita Banbury.

Anita was born in Oxford and received her musical education in London while staying at the headquarters of the Royal School of Church Music.

Describing herself as a “Choralaholic” she has sung in numerous choirs in Auckland; in retirement from her organ and piano teaching practice she conducts the occasional choir at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the St Mary’s Singers.

She holds two honours, the A.R.S.C.M. for her services to Church Music and the A.R.A.M. granted to former students of the Royal Academy of Music who have distinguished themselves in their field.

Supporting New Zealand Music

Anita is a great supporter of up and coming New Zealand composers.  Each year Anita funds a composition piece written by a novice composer selected from the University of Auckland Music School. 

Cantorum have the privilege of learning the music and performing the premier each year.

Previous composers include:

The Choir

Cantorum was formed in March 2014 and is an Auckland chamber choir of around twenty very experienced singers, who combine their passion for learning, and their shared enjoyment of performing, in the relatively specialised area of sacred music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, in both a cappella and accompanied music.

The choir was established largely from former members of the very successful Auckland chamber choir Musica Sacra which, under the leadership of Dr Indra Hughes, built up a strong reputation for the quality and musicianship of its performing during its period of operation from 1998 to 2013.

We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7.15 pm to 9.15 at All Saints Church, 284 Ponsonby Road.

Cantorum would like to grow to 30 voices over time, a “comfortable” size for a chamber choir, which would give greater scope for tackling larger scale works.

If you are interested in auditioning to join Cantorum, please fill in the application form.