AWARD WINNER UPDATES
Shauno Isomura we process irregular verbs, building on similar work and methodology used to look at regular verbs. Subject to confirmable results I am hopeful that this might be my first published research paper. The long summer holiday was spent in Hong Kong teaching English and Drama to secondary school children. A rewarding albeit trying adventure, amongst other things I definitely learned the value of patience! I am hoping to return to Hong Kong as a director of the same camp next year. Meanwhile I am spending some free time tutoring students who are in their final year of school with medical and/or Oxbridge aspirations. With a desire to involve myself in wider university life, I am now Vice-President of Gonville and Caius Medical Society. In this role I have organised talks with experts in their fields, with one particularly memorable lecture by a British doctor responsible for treating the UK’s four Ebola patients. I was also voted to be the International Officer for Caius’ Student Union. In both of these roles I have enjoyed supporting the next ‘generation’ of medics, overseas and international students.
SHAUNO ISOMURA – VIOLINIST
AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 2017 was a year that opened many doors within my career and a year that allowed me to realise the importance to stop and look around to see what is really the best, not just for my self but for the people around. The people I met and the experiences I gained during the year has connected me to numerous opportunities for the coming very exciting year including a national tour with Chamber Music New Zealand, a Recital Tour in Japan including a collaboration with the Concert Master of the Okayama Philharmonic Orchestra, New Zealand Premiere of a number of works by world renowned Japanese Composers, Comissioning of a brand new work by an emerging New Zealand Composer - just to name a few. Many of these being subjects of professional musicians. I am extremely honoured to have been granted these opportunities at such an early stage of my
Danielle McKenzie career. In 2017, my initial plan was to further my studies overseas, just like us musicians do at this time of our lives. However my plans made a sudden turn when I came across a news article about the 'Tsunami Violin' - a violin made in remembrance of the deceased, and with an aspiration of hope for the survivors of the 2011 Tsunami Earthquake in Tohoku Japan, and of the people who suffered similar tragedies across the globe such as the Christchurch Earthquake which happened only a few weeks before the Japanese earthquake. Memorial events have happened and are set to take place every five or so years. However many tend to forget that help is always needed and restoration continues during the years in between, even at this very moment. Being a New Zealand born and raised Japanese musician, the shock from having both my home countries experiencing such natural disasters have been significant and my brother and I have always been eager to help. This year being the 6th year, and with the Tsunami Violin I thought now is the time that we could start a project using our professions to help out and to let them know that there are people who care for them, even from the other side of the world. With the Tsunami Violin in hand, My brother and I held a concert tour in New Zealand named the ‘Tsunami Violin Concert Tour'. The tour was backed by the Classic for Japan Foundation in Tokyo and the Japanese Society of Auckland and Christchurch. Presented as a part of a world project involving violinists around the globe to perform on the Tsunami Violin. Past violinists who performed on the violin includes Gerard Poulet (France), Ivry Gitlis (Israel) and Emiri Miyamoto (Japan). I am honoured to have been accepted to perform on the Tsunami Violin for the very first time in New Zealand. The tour featured an all Japanese composer programme with numerous World Premiere and New Zealand Premiere works performed in venues including the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber which became a sold out concert. We were absolutely blessed to have so many people from all ages and ethnicity come together to remember the tragedies and praying for hope for the survivors through a music concert (All profit will go towards the Tohoku and Christchurch Earthquake).
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DANIELLE MCKENZIE – SURF LIFE SAVING AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015
In early October I competed in the Coolangata Gold (Surf Life Saving's toughest endurance race, Gold Coast Australia). I placed 3rd and created history by becoming the first ever female New Zealander to place on the podium. I competed only a few weeks ago for the NZ Blackfins at Mt Maunganui in the International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC). We competed over three tests and it was a tough battle against the Australians. We finished up a few points short of them. Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2017/18 Kelloggs Nutrigrain Ironwoman Series have been contested. Round 1 saw me in 11th place after a short and fast race. Round 2 (Coolum) was a super tough 2x M shape Eliminator where I placed an outstanding 3rd showing my skills and resilience in some testing surf conditions. As I write this I am looking forward to round 3 this weekend in Woolongong.
LINA KIM – COMMUNITY CHAMPION AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015
During my high school years at Westlake Girls, I’ve loved working for the community and advocating for youth voice. Currently I’m at the University of Auckland studying Law, Politics and Art History. I’m going into my third-year now and it’s been such an exciting journey filled with a lot of new people, friends and must say, a fair bit of study too! As well as loving what I’m studying, I’ve continued my passion for culture and my community. This year I’ve worked with the Honourable Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Dr Andrew Butler to foster youth opinion about the future of NZ’s Constitution. After some planning, I had the opportunity to run an Auckland event with Sir Geoffrey and Andrew to create a discussion about youth civics engagement and the future of