The Tudor Consort

The Tudor Consort’s 40th Anniversary

“This choir already occupies a unique position in our musical life after just one concert. May there soon be more.”—John Button, The Dominion Post, April 1986

And as you can see from our performance archive there certainly has been!

The Tudor Consort celebrates its 40th birthday in 2026 and we have an incredible season planned to celebrate. Collaborations with five different ensembles, a debut in Auckland, three premiere performances, and of course a performance of Thomas Tallis’ 40 part masterpiece Spem in alium. Make sure you secure your tickets!

The Tudor Consort in performance

Sunday 1 March

SoundCathedral

Part of the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts 2026

We start the year with SoundCathedral, an immersive performance installation from composer-curator Michael Norris that will transform the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul into a living, breathing soundscape.

This evocative concert weaves the ethereal polyphony of Orlando de Lassus with instrumental textures from acclaimed contemporary ensemble Stroma and taonga pūoro collective the Rangatuone Ensemble, led by Dr Riki Pirihi.

This will be The Tudor Consort’s third appearance at the Aotearoa Festival of the Arts.

“Uniformly lovely, sometimes soothing and peaceful, sometimes full-voiced and passionate… [The Tudor Consort] brings a joyous quality alongside thoughtful curation”—Elizabeth Kerr, Five Lines

The Tudor Consort

Equally at home with ethereal renaissance polyphony and challenging works of the present day, The Tudor Consort is one of New Zealand’s premier chamber choirs.

Since its inception forty years ago with founding Music Director Simon Ravens, The Tudor Consort has been dedicated to artistic excellence, authentic performance practice, and above all moving its audience through the art form of a cappella choral music.

Prizewinners at two editions of the Tolosa International Choral Competition, the choir is regularly recorded and broadcast on Radio New Zealand Concert. Highlights of its history have included critically-acclaimed performances of Handel’s Messiah and JS Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St Matthew Passion, as well as frequent collaborations with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington.

The Tudor Consort in performance
Michael Stewart

Artistic Director

Michael Stewart is one of the foremost choral conductors in New Zealand, as well as one of the country’s leading concert organists. Michael was appointed Music Director of The Tudor Consort in 2007, making him the longest serving conductor of the choir. He is also Organist and Director of Music at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, and Deputy Music Director of the New Zealand Youth Choir.

Under his tenure, The Tudor Consort has further explored the music of the twentieth century, and is proud to have given premiere performances of works by New Zealand’s own Ross Harris, Jack Body, Gemma Peacocke and David Griffiths.