Sharon Thorburn QSM, Founding Chair Kotuku Choir
Sharon Thorburn QSM, is the Founding Chair of Kotuku Legacy Music Academy and the acclaimed Kotuku Music Academy Support Trust, Wellington New Zealand. A Winston-Churchill Fellow, Sharon has created and initiated a blue print for establishing an early intervention programme for children and youth to overcome ptsd, addiction and domestic violence; growing young leaders through music. Her research and immersion into El Sistema and Schola Cantorum de Venezuela has given her professional international networks hugely beneficial in building Kotuku and beyond. Sharon has facilitated and initiated innovative collaborative projects between international government, corporate, community and education sectors in Scotland, England, U.S.A, Canada, Venezuela, Kenya, Brunei, Australia, and New Zealand. She has worked extensively on link age writing and composition programmes between youth and the elderly, with associated publications and recordings. She has directed and co-ordinated music festivals with massed choirs and facilitated master classes for teachers at national educators’ music conferences, while being a sought after guest speaker at institutions such as New England Conservatory of Music Doctorate Programme, Boston, USA. In 2009 Ms Thorburn walked the length of New Zealand, carrying her Light a Candle song, (later recorded as a global hope anthem in Tennessee) and from 2011- 2020 taught performing arts in far North Queensland, Australia, establishing strong Australian-New Zealand networks. A brief list of some of the exceptional outcomes from her 25 year teaching career spanning four continents can be measured by the achievements of the students under her direction and the teams grown around her: Winner of Secondary School Regional Choir Competition - Kenya Top NZ music university scholarship award Winner of National New Zealand Barbershop Secondary Schools Quartet Competition Winner of New Zealand's Pacifica Beats National Secondary School Rock Band Competition Winner of Commonwealth Essay Competition - Enrichment English class, Kelburn, NZ Kelburn Normal School Choir, under her direction, represented NZ at Sakai Sister city reception, performing with Vienna Boys Choir, for international conferences at MFC, for Korean and Chinese embassy receptions, and at the Centenary celebrations for Wellington Town Hall. They performed at many other local and national events. Tawa Intermediate choir, under her direction, represented NZ in Melbourne Festival of the Arts, also winning $10,000 in televised competition, performing for several NZ and Australian Prime Ministers, Wellington Mayoral and Council functions, and at every major performance venue in Wellington, New Zealand, including live television and radio broadcasts. Machans Beach State School Choir, Cairns, Australia, under her direction, won the Cairns Junior School Eisteddfod in the choral section for the first time, also representing Cairns at Principal's conference and for tourism on the coral reef.
Kotuku choir, Wellington New Zealand, continues to be a new concept in growing young leaders through music. The results can be seen, not only in our AWARDS tab, but in the lives of kotuku youth.
Sharon has two children and six grandchildren.
Kotuku choir, Wellington New Zealand, continues to be a new concept in growing young leaders through music. The results can be seen, not only in our AWARDS tab, but in the lives of kotuku youth.
Sharon has two children and six grandchildren.