Heather Fletcher

Heather grew up singing - first in church, then at school and later in Bedfordshire Youth Choir & Youth Opera (both in the UK). She studied Creative Arts in Nottingham, UK which led to a career in theatre before training to become a music therapist. All the time she sang, including in a Georgian choir started by British-based ethnomusicologist Helen Chadwick and a Bulgarian choir.

In 2005 she moved to New Zealand but there was no community choir where she lived - in Greymouth. It took another six years before one was set up. Heather joined and, after a short time, was handed the reins. That was in 2011 when Waiata Koha Gift of Song Community Choir was born.

Waiata Koha is a small, friendly and inclusive world music choir open to anyone who wants to sing, regardless of experience, and is willing to learn. The kaupapa of the choir is to create opportunities for people to come together and experience the joy of singing, whilst learning about the art of singing in harmony, as well as care of the voice.

As its name suggests, the choir also likes to give to the community by performing at community events, which has included the opening of Te Nīkau Hospital by the then Prime Minister the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, and the annual Pike River Memorial Ceremony, where they have regularly performed ‘Mine’ a poem by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman set to music by Heather, which features in the SLNA songbook Songs from the Land.

The choir currently meets at Gloria the infamous pink church in Greymouth. For more information, please contact Heather at hevfletch@yahoo.co.uk