News
2015 Le VA collaborations feature a stunning line up of musicians featuring Anahera Higgins, Ernest Semu, James Gaylyn, Karena Hunter, King Homeboy,Lance Sua, Lou'ana Pereira-Dinnan, Miguel Fuentes, TJ Taotua, Whirimako Black.
This years event is presented by The Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Come celebrate UNESCO International Jazz Day
Thursday, 30 April
10.30am till 4.10pm
The Auckland War Memorial Museum
International
From November 2012
New York
Research and Writing for TUPAIA, Pacific Music Orchestra and Chilli Beats
Taiwan
Hayley Westenra with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra
Auckland
Awatea Pacific Jazz Collaboration
Blenhiem
Product Launch - Brancott Wine Estate
“Voices from the Pacific” is a festival of music performances to commemorate the beginning of World War One and the annexation German Samoa on 29th of August in 1914.
This project presents music performances based on artistic responses to the Entangled Island Exhibition and is the outcome of investigations and explorations of aiga and alofa (love and family) themes within the exhibition.
Directed by Lance Sua these performances feature some of the most exciting new Pacific music talents in innovative and new collaborations to present to you “Voices from the Pacific”.
Saturday 30 August
10.30am
PACIFIC UNDERGROUND
- Acoustic World Music
Featuring composer/guitarist Pos Mavaega, singer/composer Tanya Muagututi'a, singers/musicians
Talia-Rae, Josephine, Ella Mavaega and percussionist Miguel Fuentes
Saturday 30 August
12.00pm
MASINA (the moon)
- Women in Spoken Word and Song
Featuring writer/poet Serie Barford, singer Valerie Fasavalu, percussionist Miguel Fuentes and
poet/spoken word artist Marina Alefosio
Saturday 30 August
01.30pm
LA’U ROSA (my rose)
- Classical Music Performances
Featuring opera singer Daphne Collins, composer/pianst Matatumua Opeloge Ah Sam, Andrew
Faleatua, Seumanu Simon Matafai and Choir
Sunday 31 August
10.30am
MAFAUFAU (to reflect)
- Pese Song, Solo Spoken Word, Tala Story, and Multimedia
Featuring singer/composer Natasha Urale-Baker, poet/mc Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua, Saxophonist Fred
Urale-Baker and poets/writers Tagata Pasifika Resources Development Trust Students
Sunday 31 August
12.00pm
SEI ORIANA (rare exotic flower)
- Popular Samoan Song - Acoustic World Music/Jazz/Soul/RnB
Featuring singer Grace Ikenasio, singer Lapi Mariner, singer/guitarist T J Taotua and
composer/musician Toleafoa Maua Miller
Sunday 31 August
01.30pm
HIP HOP LIVES HERE
- Hip Hop and Jazz music
Featuring world champion beatboxer King Homeboy, bassist Isaac Etimani, guitarist Lance Sua,
drummer Wesley Lomu, composer/singer/pianist Ernest Semu and entrepreneur/rap artist King Kapisi
Le VA
- the space between
Celebrating UNESCO International Jazz Day with some of the most exciting new and young Pacifica Artists
Date: Wednesday 30 April
Time: 10.30am-4.30pm
Place: Auckland War Memorial Museum
Music concerts
Talanoaga (discussion presentation) 1pm
GA Suitable for all ages
Albert Wendt Tribute
June 2013
I was approached by Rev Mua Strickson-Pua to come and celebrate the achievements of Albert Wendt at a Literary festival held in his honor at The University Of Auckland June 2013.
I assembled my new group to debut and celebrate a tribute to Albert. We featured and played two tunes for the concert - Sei Oriana a song by the Samoan group Ava about a rare and precious flower grown in a remote regions of Samoa. This tune I chose to reflect how Samoans feel about their high acievers - rare and precious. The second tune we played was a re-arrangement of mine while I was in New York earlier in the year of Pure Imagination from the movie Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (based on the Roald Dahl book) to reflect that what Albert and creatives alike do is 'pure imagination'.
We had a great time, band sounded great and to top it off Albert and his family really enjoyed our performance - he said it reminded him of his dad whom was a very accomplished musician.
I was moved by Alberts final thank you speech later that evening over dinner. He was eloquent and insightful in his observations of people and our society. I was inspired by his words.
Pacific Music Awards
Life Time Achievement Award 2013
This year the late Mavis Rivers was the recipient for the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
Earlier chair person Petrina George of The Pacific Music Award Trust contacted me to produce a performance to mark the occasion at the Pacific Music Awards.
After doing research for the project and going through different scenarios we decided to present three songs in there simplest form featuring Grace Ikenasio singing Stormy Weather, Victor Hawkins-Sulfa singing Everything Must Change and Peta Siu'lepa with Tama Samoa.
The workshop and rehearsals went to plan and we had a lot of fun putting together and shaping the performances, we were ready.
The evening performance at the awards ceremony was a great success with the event organizers pleased with the positive responses from the audience to the item and audience showing a hearty round of applause and hollering.
After the show I took the opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new friends. A great evening was had by all.
Looking forward to next year.