The Zippy Quartet

The Zippy Quartet (from left to right) Merivi Tiai (tenor vocal) Apikaila Iosua (baritone vocal), Amber Whitnall (lead vocal) and Heu Sina (bass vocal).

Formed 18 months ago in 2009, the Zippy Quartet are the Upper Hutt College’ all girl Barbershop Quartet singing group featuring, Heu Sina (bass), Apikaila Iosua (baritone), Amber Whitnall (lead) and Merivi Tiai  (tenor). 

The group began singing together just before the Wellington regional heats of the Young Singers in Harmony singing competition. The competition is a nationwide event that features barbershop quartets and singers from across the country. The Zippy Quartet gained sixth place in the regional competition and were selected as a wild card to compete in the Young Singers in Harmony National Competition, held later that year in Auckland. 

In 2010, the quartet made it their goal to get through to the national competition again and this time they placed second at the Wellington regional competition. This meant they were off again to compete in the national competition which would be held in Hamilton. As part of their fundraising efforts the girls busked each weekend and put on a variety concert (go to Co-Curricular/Musical Performances/2010 Pacifika Night to see photos from this event), to get the money needed to attend the nationals. Their efforts paid off and the quartet gave a great performance at the nationals and placed fourth overall. 

Aside from their successes at the regional and national competitions, the quartet have maintained a busy performance schedule: They regularly busk in and around the Wellington region, they have performed variety and fundraiser concerts at Upper Hutt College as well as performing at school functions, sang at Spring Festival in Upper Hutt, the Sweet Adeline’s’ Open Evening and the Te Marua Golf Club.

The quartet donates their time to the community by visiting rest homes and hospices to sing for the residents there.  

Working in the background training, managing and organising the quartet and their schedule are a dedicated team of teachers: David Brooks is their vocal coach and Laura McNab and Jill Owen manage, organise, coach as well as teach the girls also.