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GALS - Auckland's Rainbow Choir are a non-auditioned community choir based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Founded in 1992 as Aotearoa / New Zealand’s first LGBTQ+ choir, GALS has been bringing people together through song for over 30 years, celebrating diversity, connection, and pride.
We perform two or more concerts each year and are proud to be part of rainbow community events such as Auckland Pride Month and World AIDS Day. As members of the New Zealand Choral Federation, we also take part in combined choral events including Singfest.
GALS has performed at festivals and events across Aotearoa and internationally, including appearances in Dublin and Bologna. Our members have also participated in the international GALA Choruses Festival in the United States. Closer to home, GALS has proudly performed with the Auckland Philharmonia as part of SYNTHONY: Pride, conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams.
At our heart, GALS is about more than music — it’s about community, visibility, and creating a space where people can sing freely and belong.
Nicholas Forbes
Musical Director
Nicholas Forbes (he/him) is a conductor, singer and organist based in
Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, where he is the Director of Music at St Matthew-in-the-City and Organist of King's College, Ōtāhuhu.
Nicholas has been a Conducting Fellow with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and an Associate Conductor of Voices New Zealand. Recently, Nicholas has been the Chorus Director of the NZ Opera Chorus and Conductor of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra.
He is also a trustee of the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust.
Soomin Kim
Accompanist
Soomin Kim is a pianist and organist based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. She frequently works with singers and in particular enjoyed performing in New Zealand Opera's recent production of Mansfield Park as well as working on Red! as the répétiteur. Other recent highlights include Die tote Stadt and Dame Cath Tizard State Memorial with the Auckland Philharmonia.
Born in Korea, she began learning the piano at the age of six and continued after moving to
Aotearoa / New Zealand at age 15. She obtained LTCL Piano Recital in Tauranga under the tutelage of Denise Hull, then went on to study 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 Phil and coaching from internationally renowned pianists.
