About — HARBOUR VOICES

Originally North Shore 100 Voice Chorale, the choir was established in 1986 by influential local musician and teacher, Margot Lloyd QSM. For Season 2, 2026, Harbour Voices will be performing under the baton of Vincent Hardaker.

Vincent Hardaker
Musical Director

Vincent Hardaker is a New Zealand conductor, violist and music educator based in Auckland. He has worked with many of the country’s leading ensembles, including the Auckland Philharmonia, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, as well as a wide range of youth, community and educational groups.

Vincent was New Zealand’s inaugural Assistant Conductor in Residence from 2020 to 2021, and later served as Resident Conductor of the Auckland Philharmonia. His work has taken him across symphonic concerts, opera, film-with-live-orchestra performances, education concerts and choral-orchestral projects.

He studied orchestral conducting at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with Giordano Bellincampi and Michael Schønwandt, and holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the New Zealand School of Music, where he studied conducting with Kenneth Young and viola with Gillian Ansell.

Vincent enjoys working with musicians of all ages and stages, from professional orchestras to student and community ensembles.

Upcoming performances include conducting the Auckland Philharmonia and Bach Musica; however, before these, he is greatly enjoying his time as musical director of Harbour Voices, bringing some warmth and light into the midst of winter with their August 23rd concert.

Soomin Kim
Piano Accompanist

Introducing the HarbourVoices pianist/accompanist since 2025, Soomin Kim. We have been honoured to work with her since rehearsals started in February 2025 and have cherished her past contributions to us as a soloist at our previous concerts.

Both a pianist and organist based in Auckland, Soomin’s recent musical highlights include New Zealand Opera’s recent production of Mansfield Park, as well as Die tote Stadt and Dame Cath Tizard State Memorial with the Auckland Philharmonia. Born in Korea, she began piano study at the age of 6 and moved to New Zealand at age 15. She obtained LTCL Piano Recital under the tutelage of Denise Hull, and at the University of Auckland under Stephen De Pledge. During her studies she was selected as a Haydn Staples Piano Scholar, which involved concerti and chamber music performances with Auckland Philharmonia and coaching from internationally renowned pianists.

Simon O’Neill
Harbour Voices Patron

Simon O’Neill ONZM is one of the world’s leading heldentenors, renowned for his performances at prestigious venues like the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, and the Bayreuth Festival. His global career is anchored by his mastery of complex roles, particularly those by Wagner, which have earned him the reputation as "the Wagnerian tenor of his generation."

While he is most famous for his work in the Wagnerian canon, including roles like Siegmund, Tristan, and Parsifal, O’Neill also maintains a versatile repertoire. His ability to perform demanding works by composers such as Beethoven, Strauss, and Verdi—most notably his acclaimed Otello—demonstrates his wide-ranging musical range and adaptability.

A cornerstone of his career is his decades-long partnership with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO). Since his breakthrough in the 1996 Mobil Song Quest, he has collaborated with the orchestra on numerous landmark productions, recently celebrating the 20th anniversary of his Wagnerian debut with the ensemble.

Beyond his prolific performance schedule, which frequently features major symphonic works like Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder, O’Neill is a highly decorated artist. He is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Fulbright Scholar, and a recipient of a Doctor of Music (Honoris Causa).

His legacy is further cemented by an extensive, award-winning discography that includes Grammy-winning recordings and various high-profile live releases. Built upon elite training at the Juilliard Opera Centre, his career remains a testament to consistent artistic excellence and enduring global impact.

Harbour Voices is grateful to have Simon as our Patron in 2026.