Merle Fausett, of Tauranga, QSM, for services to music
Merle Fausett was involved with choirs in Morrinsville in the 1950s and has been Deputy Conductor of Wesley Methodist Church choir since the 1980s. She was musical director of the Tauranga Civic Choir. She conducts the Silver Singers, a choir made up of retirees. She is a committee member and Librarian of the Bay of Plenty Symphonia, where she helped establish and chaired Friends of the Orchestra. She was the Choral Director of a 100-strong choir for five successful ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concerts. Ms Fausett was a driving force behind the Rising Stars concerto competition for young musicians.