On Saturday afternoon, 231 talented ākonga instrumentalists from Sistema Aotearoa shone on stage as they performed a glittering programme, including 80s film theme song ‘Ghostbusters’, at Auckland Philharmonia’s Pese! Fasi! Pūoro! event. As well as being an opportunity for the young musicians to perform alongside Auckland Philharmonia players at the Due Drop Events Centre, this community music-making workshop and concert celebrated music and Sistema Aotearoa’s ongoing work in the South Auckland community.
Pese! Fasi! Pūoro! kicked off with a workshop led by Auckland Philharmonia’s professional musicians for tamariki and rangatahi from Sistema Aotearoa, an Ōtara-based music and social development programme. Conducted by Reuben Brown, the 2025 New Zealand Assistant Conductor-in-Residence, together they rehearsed a diverse selection of music, which ranged from well-known classical composers Beethoven and Strauss, through to an orchestral arrangement of Ray Parker Jr.’s theme song to the Ghostbusters movie.
Also on the programme was 'Symphony', a song commissioned by Commonwealth Resounds for last year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa. The song was written by young composers, living in the five regions of the Commonwealth. Siri from India, Jahfari from Antigua and Barbuda, James from Australia, Jacob from Malta and Ajiri from Nigeria. They created the song in online workshops, led by professional songwriters, Pam Sheyne & Richard Harris with composers, Jack Pepper and Alison Cox. A true cross-Commonwealth collaboration, this piece was performed across the globe in 2024 and arranged specially for this concert by staff from SolFa in Samoa and Sistema Aotearoa.
The workshop culminated with a free public concert presented by Tuaratini Ra’a, where an audience of 300 friends and whānau enjoyed the spirited finale performance of the orchestral pieces rehearsed during the workshop. The concert concluded with a special combined performance of ‘Symphony’, paying tribute to the special connection that the Auckland Phil and Sistema Aotearoa have built with the SolFa ensemble in Samoa.
