Choir Administration
KAREN KNUDSON – MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Karen is well known to Dunedin audiences as a conductor and performer. She is a graduate of the University of Otago, with a MusB(Hons) and MA. At University she was awarded many academic prizes, including the best performance student.
Karen works as a conductor and teacher and has toured with groups to Hawaii, Japan and Australia. She has recorded for Radio and Television New Zealand, and BBC Scotland.
Karen has been Organist and Director of Music at Knox Church since 1997. At Knox Church under her direction, the choir has produced works which would otherwise not be experienced in the city; masses by Lotti, Viadana, Vittoria, Casciolini, Schubert, Rheinberger, Dvorak, Britten etc. Karen has also produced many examples of the large choral repertoire.
Karen has also conducted Strauss’ Die Fledermaus for Opera Otago and she also conducts a children’s choir, which sings as part of the Knox Church Choir. They perform regularly in rest homes, the Art Gallery, Railway Station and busking along George Street. Ages 5-13.
In 2013 Karen enjoyed the opportunity of working with St Kilda Brass as their conductor. And in 2014 was appointed music director of the Dunedin RSA choir.
Karen was music director for a Dunedin youth choir consisting of students from Otago Girls High School, Otago Boys High School and St Hilda’s Collegiate School. In May 2015 the choir was invited to participate in the 32nd Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. Karen has three daughters; Abigail, Calla and Ariana – all with music talents.
KEVIN F TANSLEY CHOIR CHAIR
Kevin joined the choir as a baritone or "First Base' in 1987 and by his own admission, 'loves every minute of it'. He started helping the choir organisation by establishing the role of Choir Comptroller (or ‘RSM’) in the 1990s, a role he continued until March 2014 when he was elected Chair of the Choir.
Kevin has also been a choir soloist and Co Producer of some of our concerts. He took over the role of 'archivist' around 2010 and has developed an extensive electronic and hard copy record of all our songs sung, old programmes, photos etc. Specific singing highlights would have to be the two tours of Australia, singing at the entombment of the New Zealand Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and every concert or performance in between!
Kevin is hugely appreciative of the fact that the choir administration is very much a team effort making the role of 'Chair' less arduous. All those who do everything from putting the chairs out at practices to producing concerts do so in such a friendly and willing manner it make the Dunedin RSA Choir such a wonderful choir to belong to.
SANDRA CRAWSHAW ACCOMPANIST
Sandra is a pianist and violinist from Dunedin. In 1987 she graduated with a BMus (Hons) in piano from Auckland University and continued post – graduating studies at the Royal College of Music, London. Moving to Dunedin in 1991, she continues to perform and teach. Currently she is finishing a PhD thesis about His Majesty’s Theatre (now Sammy’s) and the history of entertaining in Dunedin.
