Malfroy School pupils brush shoulders with international choir

Malfroy School Choir performs. Photo / Stephen Parker

Aspiring singers have had the chance to brush shoulders with a more established choir and "share something magical".

Musyca, a Los Angeles-based children's choir toured New Zealand and Australia with stops in Sydney, Cairns, Auckland and Rotorua.

The 16-strong choir joined pupils at Malfroy School in song at the end of last term. Musyca choir director Mikhail Shtangrud said he had always wanted to visit New Zealand and the choir wanted to learn as much as they could about the culture and to visit a local school.

Shtangrud's daughter Natalie, 14, has been in the choir for about seven years and said she enjoyed the warm atmosphere the school had.

Malfroy School Choir performs. Photo / Stephen Parker

"I see this as an opportunity not only to do what I love but to meet people from other countries," she said.

"Being able to sing with them, we share something magical."

The Malfroy School Choir and Musyca performed a show for family, friends and visitors at the school and also spent time playing games, getting to know each other and exchanging tips.

Malfroy School pupil Israel Hall, 10, said he learned a lot from Musyca.

"It's amazing because we don't really get to see many people that are that good at singing in a choir," he said.

Malfroy School Choir performs. Photo / Stephen Parker

"It's cool to see how they work together."

The trip came about when an acquaintance of the Malfroy School Choir Ieremia Amani Amituana'i said the Musyca choir was looking for a local school to host them.

Amituana'i said it was a great opportunity for the pupils.

"It's good for them because it's really encouraging them in their music and being in the choir and a good learning experience for them. It gives them some inspiration."