Our emphasis is on participation, inclusion and building our LGBTQI+ community. The choir is in good health with around 60 actve members.
The Glamaphones officially started in 2011, evolving out of the Homophones, a gay men's choir that began in 2007.
We sing for enjoyment and work hard to create wonderful music. We sing a range of music including; pop, classical, spirituals, world, choral, musical and jazz classics.
We sing from late January to mid-December typically taking a break in July. Two concerts are performed a year with various shorter performances sprinkled throughout i.e. Pride events, Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The Glamaphones Team
Thomas Nikora (he/him) Musical Director
Thomas Nikora re-joins the Glamaphones musical directorship team having spent the last nine years as Music Director of Cantoris choir. Under Thomas’s direction, the choir performed a diverse repertoire of programmes; from familiar classical choral works, to contemporary theatre favourites and large works with orchestra.
Thomas grew up in Masterton, attending Makoura College where he earned the school's top Kia Manawanui award. He attended Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music under the tutelage of Dr Jian Liu.
Thomas is certainly not a new face in choir circles having sung with Orpheus Choir, Nota Bene and Victoria Voices. He is the regular accompanist for Festival Singers and conducted several items on their recent C.D. "People of the Light". Thomas has also been the accompanist for several Cantoris performances in the past.
Having gained further recognition as a Pianist and Conductor directing Cantoris, Thomas was principal keyboard player for Orchestra Wellington, and later took on the role of répétiteur for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Thomas also conducted the Tawa Community Orchestra, was the accompanist for NZSM, music director for St. Peter’s on Willis, and more recently, founder and musical director for the St. Peter’s Orchestra.
Thomas' musical interests include musical theatre, opera, late Romantic composers and contemporary works. He aspires to one day conduct orchestral, choral works internationally with various other ensembles, and is committed to developing and progressing music in the community and professional groups.
