ENSEMBLES 2026
Voces Luce
Voces Luce is the premier choir at Queen Margaret College in Wellington, New Zealand. We perform regularly for school assemblies, community events, and participate in the annual New Zealand secondary school choral competition, The Big Sing. Since 2018, we have been very successful in this competition winning regional awards, selection for the Finale and performing at a high standard. Voces Luce has developed a reputation for innovative and engaging repertoire, polished performances, and consistently high level of engagement and energy from all singers. We wanted to diversify our experiences and travel overseas to choral festivals and competitions. In 2018, Voces Luce attended the Australian International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, where we were awarded a Gold medal.
After a long hiatus of no travel internationally due to Covid, Voces Luce travelled to Singapore in 2023 for the 13th Orientale Concentus. At this festival, we were awarded a place in the Grand Prix final, which was for the top 5 choirs of the competition. Voces Luce was the only high school choir in the finals and was awarded a Gold medal for their outstanding performances. In 2024, Voces Luce represented New Zealand, along with other choirs, at the World Choir Games in two categories. In the same year, Voces Luce received the Gold award at the New Zealand National Big Sing Finale. We are honoured to represent Queen Margaret College, our families, Wellington, and Aotearoa New Zealand at the Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna.
Mark Lee Stamper
Conductor
Mark L. Stamper, a native of South Carolina, began his piano study at the age of three and eventually expanded his musical interests to include choral music. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Winthrop University in 1986 where he studied with Dr. Eugene Barban. In 1989, Mr. Stamper was awarded a Master of Music degree with a concentration in Choral Conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. With conducting experience widespread among many genres of music, Mr. Stamper's depth includes ballet, choral, opera, orchestral, and musicals. His love for music is exemplified through his working in various performance mediums, as well as various genres. His choirs have consistently received accolades from critics and judges, attained superior ratings at festivals, and have been featured as an honor choir at American Choral Directors Association conventions and at The Big Sing in New Zealand and in various international competitions. Mark moved to Wellington, New Zealand in 2015 and is now a citizen of New Zealand. During the past 11 years, he has worked with various choirs from different age groups and experience. In New Zealand, he is the Founding Artistic Director of Inspirare, Director of Choirs at Queen Margaret College where he conducts 3 ensembles: Voces Luce and Jubilate, (our award-winning choirs) and Celesta, FilCoro, and the Wairarapa Singers. Voces Luce has received national recognition as a regular participant in the Big Sing Finale of New Zealand. They have also been awarded Gold medals at the Australian International Music Festival, and at the Orientale Concentus in Singapore where they were the only high school choir placed into the Grand Prix. Mark regularly works with other choirs as a guest clinician, as well as mentoring young conductors.
