NOVEMBER: Another collaboration with Terri van- Schooten for the Alzheimers NZ conference at the TSB Arena. Performing with Tumeke with new personnel member Tim Whitta we played well known Maori waiata to a very enthusiastic audience.
Lester Hall - what a exciting discovery to see this artists latest work pop up on my FB page. It was love at first sight with his Pania (Blue Lady). I emailed him immediately to request that I must have her. To my delight while browsing at Ora Gallery, I saw his work on display there. I was excited to learn that Lester was coming to town to promote a Colabronation Exhibition with fellow artist Paora Tiatoa. It was with great pleasure to play at this exhibition and take Pania home!
Mayoral Inauguration- Haere mai Justin. What an honour to be part of this very special ceremony at the MFC. I was delighted that Justin Lester had won this position and am really looking forward to his leadership of our city. Just three weeks earlier I had performed at the Farewell celebration for the outgoing Mayor Celia Wade- Brown at Te Marae Te Papa. It was lovely to see many familiar faces to send Celia on her way. Haere ra Celia.
OCTOBER: 80th Birthday Party held at the Lowry Bay Yacht Club. An intimate gathering of happy family and friends to celebrate this milestone occasion. Playing at Old St Pauls Cathedral always engenders a sense of awe in me. This occasion for the NZ Law Conference Dinner was quite different as It was the first time I had seen the church set up as a dinning room. The pews have been fitted so they can be turned - it looked very elegantly ethereal.
SEPTEMBER: A fusion of many creative talents collaborated for the Resene Total Colour Awards held at Shed 6. The atrium was beautifully decorated with potted punga and harakeke plants and along with subdued lighting set up a wonderful welcoming stage for me to perform on. A gorgeous Resene paint splattered tutu was specially made for the event. It is now part of my wardrobe!
Gorgeous Resene tutu. Photo courtesy Larissa Paula FineLine Photography
AUGUST: Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Giselle was a hit with audiences. Running alongside the production is a Education programme Ballet in Schools Workshops. I was fortunate to be part of a trio with fellow colleagues, Moira on Clarinet and Brenton on Cello. We presented workshops in secondary schools in Wellington, Tawa and Upper Hutt. It was fulfilling to witness the progress in a hour of coaching from RNZ Ballet Master Pagan to see the students creating beautifully elegant forms that they would see when they attend the Giselle shows. It gave them a sense of achievement and also appreciation of how dedicated the dancers are.
Brenton posing for the students- lol
Its always a pleasant surprise and blessing to get repeat work from a client so I was delighted when Terri van- Schooten from Verve Events contacted me to create a Mini Cultural Symphony for Education NZ conference in Auckland. Along with Tumeke kapa haka my story was delivered to a very attentive audience. I saw many of the attendees at the airport the next day and they told me how blown away they were with our performance.