Helen Diaz

Autumn Harmonies 2015

I have always sung, for joy or sorrow, alone or in company. From my mother’s knee, to singing in harmony with my family and continued in community, school, choirs and bands.

For a couple of decades, I was the Song Leader for North Auckland, natural voice choirs; Kai Rhythmix, North Soul and Local Vocals Choir. In addition, I arranged and taught songs through diverse public workshops, choirs and ensembles.

Helen Leads Heaven Bent

As a past Secretary and Treasurer on the SLNA management committee and in my local area, I was actively involved in collaborative projects with other song leaders and mentoring emerging song leaders.

I currently lead and sing with the female ensemble, Heartsachord, sing in community and continue to offer an occasional, public singing workshop.

My affinity is for folk, sacred and world song, with their ability to connect people of diverse cultures, in common experience.

To me, natural voice, group singing is an active, relational intervention, between a song leader and singers. My goal is to intentionally create spaces for inclusive and participatory singing that places emphasis on cooperation and cultural democracy. Singing literally gives “voice” to those who take part.

Despite being adults, we learn in very similar ways to children, by doing or ‘playing,’ with information, guidance and support. Each singer’s potential is unknowable.

Singing is a whole person activity that combines complex physical and cognitive processes. Each person’s voice is as unique as their finger print and as close to their identity as life is to breath.

LVC Warkworth Concert 2019

Each song will bloom into a fresh rendition as it is recreated by a group of singers. We're not being correct to the score or a recording, we're being correct to the song. Success follows when we are all together, intent on finding the sound that releases the song. Singing together, we create musical joyfulness and community.

LVC Warkworth Concert 2019