Our Team

Natasha "Tash" Manowitz

Founder / Choral Director

Tash is the Choral Director of all three choirs, leading the Dunedin Children’s Choir programme alongside her colleagues Susie and Helen. She oversees rehearsals, repertoire, performances, and the overall musical direction of the choir, and is the first point of contact when families email or message the choir.

Tash is a music teacher at Logan Park High School, where she teaches classroom Music, Orchestra, flute, and violin, and is also the Choral Director at St Hilda’s Collegiate School, leading Sings Hilda. Until December 2023, she also taught singing at Saturday Morning Music Classes (SMMC), alongside a range of other instruments.

She holds a Bachelor of Music (BMus) from the University of Auckland and a Master of Teaching and Learning (MTchLn) from the University of Otago. Tash has a strong interest in the Kodály approach, completing all three levels of the Australian Kodály Certificate, and has also undertaken professional development in Dalcroze and Orff methodologies.

A passionate singer, Tash has performed with youth and community choirs including Voices New Zealand, the Flagstaff Community Choir, Octagon Ensemble, and the Opera Otago Chorus. She is currently studying classical voice with Dr Tessa Romano.

As a conductor, Tash has worked with ensembles including the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, Collegiate Orchestra, and City Wind Orchestra. She is particularly passionate about developing young voices and creating accessible, high-quality music opportunities for young people, and has completed The Voice Lab Level 1 course for voice teachers.

Tash is also an accomplished instrumentalist on flute and violin, holding an ATCL in flute and Grade 8 violin. She has performed with youth orchestras in Auckland and Dunedin, toured Europe with the Auckland Youth Orchestra, and appeared as part of Korihi Duo, touring New Zealand with pianist Cindy Xia.

Alongside her classroom and conducting work, Tash has extensive experience as an itinerant music teacher, working with students across a wide range of schools in both Dunedin and Auckland.

Susan "Susie" Frame

Founder / Pianist

Susie is the pianist for the Dunedin Children’s Choir, where she leads physical and vocal warm-ups, accompanies rehearsals and performances, and supports singers in developing confidence and enjoyment of singing. As one of the founders of the choir, she plays an important role in creating the welcoming and community-focused environment of the programme.

Susie has accompanied school and community choirs in Dunedin for the past two decades. Between 2001 and 2016, she worked as a pianist, guitarist, and composer at Balmacewen Intermediate, and between 2005 and 2013 was the accompanist for all choirs at Tahuna Intermediate. She has also been the accompanist for the Flagstaff Community Choir for over 18 years.

Alongside her musical work, Susie also worked as a nurse throughout her career.

Over the years, Susie has performed regularly in community settings and care homes, including at Yvette Williams Retirement Village and a local dementia unit. Since 2021, she has also been the pianist for the Dunedin Highland Dancing Examinations.

In 2023, Susie co-wrote the musical Pause, Breath Smile with Rosalind Manowitz, inspired by the mindfulness programme of the same name. After months of rehearsals led by Susie and Rosalind, the production was staged by Māori Hill School at the Regent Theatre.

Susie has also been a published author for over 25 years. Her short stories have appeared in international magazines, while her educational readers are sold worldwide through HarperCollins UK and Sunshine NZ. She has also toured New Zealand as a guest writer for Writers in Schools.

Helen Rutherford

Instrumentalist / Choir Advisor

Helen adds guitar, bass, and percussion parts to many of the choir songs, assists in teaching the children, and is an overall advisor for the choir. As part of the leadership team since the early formation of the choir, she brings a wealth of musical, practical, and pastoral experience to the Dunedin Children’s Choir community.

Alongside a 46-year career in nursing, Helen has worked in a wide range of musical and leadership roles throughout Otago and Central Otago.

Between 1987 and 1997, Helen was involved in seven productions with the Ranfurly Musical and Dramatic Society. She performed as a guitarist and lead vocalist in many of these productions and was Musical Director for both Li’l Abner (1993) and Footrot Flats (1997). In these roles, she worked as a conductor, vocal coach, rehearsal pianist, director, and instrumentalist, helping lead large community productions from rehearsal through to performance.

Helen has also taught guitar at Maniototo Area School and has extensive experience supporting community music-making across a range of ages and settings. She has sung with the Flagstaff Community Choir for over 10 years, performing regularly at community events, festivals, and care homes around Dunedin.

Known for her warmth, encouragement, and practical musicianship, Helen brings her experience as a musical director, vocalist, guitarist, teacher, and mentor to supporting the tamariki of the Dunedin Children’s Choir.

Griffin is the Vocal Coach and Co-Leader for the Dunedin Children’s Choir Lower Voices Choir, where he works closely with young singers to support healthy vocal development, confidence, and ensemble singing in a welcoming and inclusive environment. 

Griffin Nichol’s love of singing began in early childhood and as a part of his primary school choir. He started singing more seriously as a teenager when he was a passionate member and section leader of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir and a member of the New Zealand National Youth Choir. Griffin continues to enjoy ensemble singing; he is a member of the Voices New Zealand Voices 60, and sings with local choirs including performing as a soloist and choir member with Octagon Ensemble and the Southern Consort of Voices.

A highlight in 2025 was travelling to Whakatāne to sing in the chorus for the first performance of Dame Gillian Whitehead’s ‘The Journey of Mataatua Wharenui’ in the wharenui itself. 

Griffin studied towards a Bachelor of Music in singing and cello at the New Zealand School of Music and is currently working towards completing this qualification in vocal performance at the University of Otago. Griffin has been focusing on developing his solo singing, and taking up opportunities for local performances, including singing the National Anthem at the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championships in Dunedin.

Griffin’s employment background is in psychotherapy, social work, youth work and education, with particular experience in the LGBTQI community. Griffin brings this experience and perspective to music contexts, with the firm belief that fostering warmth, inclusiveness and attention to relationships and group dynamics creates richer expressive and music-making experiences. Griffin also teaches singing privately, and prioritises healthy technique and the joy of making music and communicating musically. Griffin is a student member of New Zealand Association of Singing Teachers (NEWZATS).

Griffin is a Dad of two, and when he has spare time, his other loves are exploring the bush, running and orienteering, learning te reo Māori and swimming in rivers and the sea.

Cameron is the pianist for the Dunedin Children’s Choir Lower Voices Choir, where he provides accompaniment for rehearsals and performances while supporting singers in developing confidence, musicianship, and ensemble skills. He works closely with Tash and Griffin to create a supportive and engaging rehearsal environment for young singers, and brings extensive experience as both a performer and music teacher to the role.

Originally from Dunedin, Cameron is delighted to be involved in the Dunedin Children’s Lower Voices Choir. Cameron completed a MusB (Hons) at University of Otago in 2024, studying piano under Blair Professor Terence Dennis and composition under Professor Anthony Ritchie. As a pianist, he frequently performs across the Otago region. 

He has featured as a soloist with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra on two occasions, including in the final of the Dunedin Concerto Competition, and performed in masterclasses under noted figures such as Gabriela Montero (Venezuela). He was also the piano intern for this years’ NZ Opera School.

Cameron is also a keen composer, whose works have been workshopped and performed across New Zealand. Recent awards include winning the NZSO 2022 Todd Young Composer and Orchestra’s Choice Award for his work Moirai, as well as being a winner in the 2023 and 2025 NZTrio Composing Competition. Cameron plays viola in the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (where he is also a player rep) and is a three-time member of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra. 

Alongside his music studies, he holds a B.A. in French and German, an ATCL in recorder, and is an active music teacher from beginner to university level. Cameron is currently exploring options for postgraduate study overseas.

Ellen is the Choir Supervisor and Community Liaison for the Dunedin Children’s Choir, where she helps support the smooth running of rehearsals and performances while building a warm and welcoming environment for singers and whānau.

Originally from Waitaha Canterbury, Ellen moved to Ōtepoti Dunedin to study Music and Māori Studies at the University of Otago, and has since become deeply involved in the Dunedin music community as a performer, teacher, conductor, and arts administrator.

Ellen currently performs with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and Ōwheo Quartet, and has been a member of the Dunedin Youth Orchestra and the NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra. 

Ellen teaches cello and violin privately and has taught at a range of places, including the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, Saturday Morning Music Classes, and John McGlashan College.

Her music administration roles cover her work with Chamber Music New Zealand, the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra Academy, where she also conducts.

Ellen is passionate about creating encouraging and supportive musical environments where people of all ages can grow in confidence, creativity, and connection through music.

Thérèse is the Vocal Coach and Teacher for the Dunedin Children’s Choir Junior Choir, where she supports young singers in developing confidence, musicianship, and a love of singing in a positive and encouraging environment.

She is a Teacher and Enviroschools lead at Macandrew Bay School, and brings decades of experience as a primary school teacher to her work with children. Thérèse is passionate about supporting young people to grow through music, and enjoys helping children develop both their musical skills and confidence through encouragement, care, and positivity.

Originally from Invercargill, Thérèse grew up singing in choirs and has maintained a lifelong love of choral music. She has a background in piano studies, school musicals and has majored in Music at Otago University. She continues to sing locally with Choir!Choir! — the Otago Peninsula Community Choir.

Thérèse brings a warm and nurturing approach to rehearsals, supporting the youngest members of the choir while encouraging all singers to strive to do their best and enjoy making music together. 

Alison supports the Dunedin Children’s Choir as an advisor and member of the Executive Committee, bringing a wide range of experience in communication, education, writing, and digital media.

Her professional background centres around supporting people and organisations through clear communication, practical problem-solving, and accessible design. Alison currently works as a Web Editor for the Otago Regional Council, where she manages website content and helps ensure information is written in accessible, user-friendly language. She is also the editor of the NZ Suzuki Journal, supporting music teachers and students from around New Zealand to share their stories and experiences through publication.

Alongside this, Alison has worked for many years in writing, website management, social media strategy, and digital content creation through her own business and freelance work. Her experience has included supporting musicians, educators, small businesses, and community organisations both in New Zealand and internationally.

Alison holds a Bachelor of Communication from Massey University with a major in Journalism, a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary), and a Diploma in Digital Media. She has a strong interest in literacy, the arts, and helping organisations communicate in ways that are welcoming and accessible.

Her combination of educational, creative, and organisational experience brings valuable support and perspective to the Dunedin Children’s Choir community.