V8 Vocal Ensemble was formed in 1998 and performs a wide variety of music. The repertoire has included music from such diverse composers as Mendelssohn, Bardos, Gershwin, Carole Kine, Lotti, Rutter, U2 as well as music from all sorts of genres. Recently there has been a focus on music written especially for smaller vocal groups, such as that sung by the King's Singers and the Swingle Singers.
The singers in V8 are all current or former members of the New Zealand Youth Choir and/or Voices New Zealand. All have represented New Zealand overseas at festivals and competitions with these choirs.
The group has sung at weddings and corporate functions, as well as hosting themed concerts on a regular basis, including the popular 'A Capella in Takapuna', 'But Wait - There's More!', 'Afternoon Delight', 'Sunday Drive with V8' and 'A Lot of Hot Air'.
Current V8 Members
Virginia Le Cren
Virginia grew up in Havelock North singing duets with her sister. It is hardly surprising that, coming from a family of teachers, she ended up doing the same thing. Virginia has sung with dozens of groups and is a founding member of Voices New Zealand. She spends most of her free time renovating the house, while also looking after her three gorgeous wee boys, Henri, Hugo and Luca.
Celia Aspey-Gordon
Celia was born in the Deep South and moved to Wellington in her teens. She then rejoined the northern drift and left the capital for Auckland's sunny climes late last century. She was a founding member of Voices New Zealand but now spends her holidays instead with her three wonderful children, Lachlan, Benjamin and Olivia. Having a hyphenated name since her marriage to Tony has greatly increased her artistic potential. Celia studied business rather than music at University and is now a Marine Underwriting & Risk Executive in the insurance field.
Carolyn Medland
Secondary school English and Music teacher, vocal coach, school and community choir director and mother of three boys, Cal has been singing in choirs since she was considerably smaller than she is now. A past member of the NZ Youth Choir, Auckland University Singers, Viva Voce, Voices NZ, as well as being a Queen City Big Band vocalist (going a long way back into the history books there!), she is one of the four remaining original members of V8 (together with Virginia, Celia and Stephen).
Judy Dale
Judy has a degree in Theatre & Film and Japanese from her beloved home town of Wellington, and is a feature film production coordinator in Auckland on big-budget films such as Narnia’s ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and ‘Prince Caspian’. She is a past member of the ‘Choir of the World’ winning Tower NZ Youth Choir, and she and her husband Corey are the delighted parents of V8’s latest little addition, Sylvie Valerie.
Albert Mataafa
Married to Belinda, proud father of two, Albie is V8’s Sanitarium-sponsored nutrition advisor. He sings with Voices New Zealand and is a freelance soloist. Albie is the music consultant and member of the Day 7 male choir at his local church, and is our resident Andrea Bocelli/Pavarotti impersonator.
Brendon Shanks [currently standing in for Andrew]
As the newest member of the group Brendon is the baby of V8. He is a southern man incognito in the big city of Auckland. After studying Music and Physics at Otago University and meeting his wife Rachael, he made his way up the country singing in any choirs that would have him. He has enjoyed being a member of NZ Secondary Students Choir, NZ Youth Choir and is now a member of Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir.
Rowan Johnston
Rowan originally hails from New Plymouth, and is HOD Music at Westlake Girls High School. He is a multi-talented flautist, pianist, guitarist and percussionist in his Taranaki-based Celtic band ‘Shaskeen Reel’. He sings with Voices New Zealand and looks dashing in his attractive red cassock when singing with the Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir.
Stephen Rowe
Stephen’s choral singing started as a six year old treble in the Christchurch Cathedral choir and has continued downwards to the murky depths of the B2’s with the National Youth choir and Voices New Zealand. However, not one to be pigeon-holed, Stephen has sung and played in barbershop Quartets, Jazz ensembles, Musicals, Bush bands, Baroque, Church, Jazz and Community choirs. He is also a founding member of V8 and sang with the group for a number of years before heading overseas. Stephen is now a music facilitator for Auckland and Northland secondary music teachers. He is married to a talented music teacher and is a proud father of three.
Andrew Milner-White [currently taking some time off from V8]
Andy is our resident corporate high-flier, currently taming the telecommunications sector in his role at Telecom Wholesale. He is also the proud father of Charlotte (age 2) with partner Sarah. In between other singing gigs with Voices New Zealand and the University of Auckland Chamber Choir, Andrew loves spending time outdoors with his young family. Apart from a three year stint overseas, Andrew has been singing with V8 since 1999.
