“It was honestly surreal. When I saw the email, I had to read it twice just to make sure it was real.”
“Coming from a small Far North town, opportunities like this can feel quite distant, so being selected was incredibly affirming.”
He said the achievement was not only his own, but one shared with his family and community.
“I felt a huge sense of pride for my whānau and the awesome community we have here in the Far North that have supported me along the way. It really showed me that where you come from doesn’t limit how far you can go.”
Now 18, McBirney said music had been part of his life for as long as he could remember.
“I think my first personal performance was when I was about 5 or 6, when I unexpectedly burst into opera while my parents and I were driving in the car. Singing has always been a huge part of my life.”
He said the selection involved an audition, which included vocal assessments and musicianship requirements.
“The process really challenges you, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.”
He said he was looking forward to performing a wide repertoire, especially New Zealand works alongside internationally composed pieces.
“Being part of an ensemble that performs at such a high level, both nationally and internationally, is something I’m really looking forward to. More than anything, I’m excited for every performance that will take place during this cycle and the experiences that come with them.”
He is now in Dunedin, studying at Otago University, and said family support had been a huge part of his journey, with his parents and nana constantly backing him.
“They’ve always been there for me, encouraging and pushing me to keep going. Alongside them, my teachers, friends and wider community have believed in me and supported me to take opportunities, even when I wasn’t sure I was ready.”
He now hopes to continue growing as a musician and to learn from the talented people around him.
“I also want to represent Northland and Aotearoa with pride and, hopefully, encourage other young people from regional areas to see that national opportunities are possible. This is my journey right now, but it’s not one that ends with me – I hope it inspires another student from our little old Far North to participate and audition when it’s their time.”
His music teacher Dr Opeloge Ah Sam, said McBirney had undeniable talent,
“His presence and joy lifts up everyone around him. I knew I needed to help him fulfil the amazing potential he had.”
Ah Sam got McBirney to audition for the NZ Secondary Students’ Choir as a way to open that door for him before leaving.
“I am so proud of him getting into the NZ Youth Choir and I look forward to seeing how he uses his talents and opportunities to make a difference in other people’s lives and to enjoy his own journey.”
Rachel Hardie, senior producer for Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand Trust, which manages the NZ Youth Choir, said the auditions were held in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, plus digital auditions for a few who could not be there live – like Noah.
“The auditions were taken by music director Rowan Johnston and vocal coach Morag Aitchison. There were 120 people auditioning for 50 places and the calibre was extremely high – the artistic team had to make some difficult choices.”