Introducing our new Choir Director

By Konrad Hanson | Posted: Wednesday February 12, 2025

OBHS are pleased to welcome our new choir director, John Buchanan.

John has an amazing amount of experience with choirs, so we are grateful to have him on board. 

Choir started this week, but if there are any who still wish to join, see Mr Hanson, or come along to choir at 6:30pm on Thursday evenings in the school theatre. 

A bit about our new choir director:

John Buchanan MNZM
From Dunedin – educated at Otago Boys’ High School
Sang in St Paul’s Cathedral choir from age 7 – Head Boy
Trained Music teacher – conducted first choir at age 16 – St Martin’s Church NEV.
Moved to Auckland – Sang in Auckland Cathedral Choir, moved to the UK to be Head of Music at a secondary school in Stanford. Conducted school choir and local choral society.
Returned to NZ (Auckland ) conducted South Auckland Choral Society as well as school choirs.
Moved to Wanaka (1994)  – Was HOD Music at Mt Aspiring College while the teacher was on maternity leave.  Conducted Wanaka Singers,and went around schools in the area developing singing in primary schools,
Conducted the Central Otago Regional Orchestra and formed the Central Otago Regional choir. Also conducted the Roxborough Brass Band, took the band to two Nationals where they became National Champions in their section.
2006 – Moved to Alexandra – Relieved as HOD Music at Dunstan High School.  Took the school's choir Dunstanza – choir developed from a choir of 16 to being a choir of 80 over the years until I left in 2018.  Senior Girls choir were selected for Big Sing Finale in 2017 and invited to go to Sydney in 2018 to compete in the Australian International Music Festival. Sang in Sydney Opera House.
Retired to Dunedin in 2019 but now take:
Royal Dunedin Male Choir
Southern Youth Choir
Columba College School Choir
All Saints Church and Selwyn College Choirs
This year – Otago Boys’, Otago Girls’ and Otago Boys’ and Girls’ combined choir.
Was honoured by the late Queen and made an MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit)  in 2020