The Monday Q&A: Whanganui musician Caleb Arthur is also speed stacking champion

Caleb Arthur is the new musical director of the Wanganui Community Choir, and his sister Shontae will be the accompanist. Photo / Lewis Gardner

Caleb Arthur is New Zealand's champion speed stacker. The 22-year-old is also a passionate musician and tells reporter Laurel Stowell how he's landed a role directing a choir of 70 mainly older people.

How have you come to be the musical director of the Wanganui Community Choir?

I did the piano accompaniment for Lynn Whiteside, who directed it for 11 years. She and one of the committee members asked me if I would like to take over, and I said I would love to. I have always wanted to do something like this. I absolutely love music. I love singing and the sounds choirs make through singing different parts.

Where do you get your interest in music?

From mum and dad. Everyone in our family has learned an instrument. Caitlin, Shontae and I will probably do some playing as a trio. I play the cello and I have learned piano for about 16 years - with Ingrid Culliford until I moved to Levin in 2018. I play classical music, and I play at the Riverside Christian Church. I joined my first choir in Marton at the age of about 13. I have been in musical productions in Palmerston North and Marton and until I moved to Levin I was the youngest member of the Whanganui Male Choir.

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What is a good day for you?

Playing the piano. I play the piano at least one or two hours a day, just for fun, messing around, learning random new techniques, widening my abilities.

What sort of piano do you have?

I bought a Diapason, made in Japan. I live in a flat and I brought it down from Auckland. It has a very, very nice tone. I really miss it when I go away and play on a different piano.

What is the Wanganui Community Choir like?

It's soprano, alto, tenor, bass, with part singing. It's for all ages and all levels of singing. It's for anyone that loves singing. It's relaxed, but it makes impressive sounds. I call it the fun choir, because we always do lots of fun songs. I will try to keep that going.

Have you ever directed anything before?

I have been to the United States twice, once to compete in speed stacking and again to visit very good friends in Arkansas. One of my friends conducted a church choir there, and I semi-helped with that.

Where did you grow up?

I was brought up in the Turakina Valley. I have eight brothers and sisters, and my mum Marie home schooled all of us.

What sort of work do you do?

When I was 20 I spent a year in Levin draughting house plans, taught by a friend of the family. I own a company called Speed Stacks (NZ) Ltd. I promote the sport in schools, sell everything you need for stacking and run competitions. I'm not fulltime, because the sport is quite small in New Zealand at the moment. It used to be very large and I'm working on making it a lot bigger. I also work at Frank and Mint at nights.

How did you get interested in speed stacking?

One of my friends from Rotorua was showing me how to do it and I got absolutely hooked on it. My family all did it and we started going to competitions in 2008. I have been overseas four times to world competitions. My best placing was 13th out of about 400. I'm the current New Zealand champion.

What person in history would you most like to meet?

Frederick Chopin. I absolutely love his music. I play a lot of Chopin.