Sing choir of angels
I speak Tongan. I don't know much about my Samoan heritage, and being able to do the dance solo for this piece was a great privilege to share the part of me which I don't express often.” A year 12 student, she has always enjoyed singing, dancing, and speaking in public, performing in church, at school, and other events. She was competing at the Big Sing, an inter-school choir competition, when she discovered the secondary students choir. “I have never seen such a diverse group of people from all around New Zealand sing so beautifully and look so joyful when on stage.” She quickly decided to audition, and is now one of the 54 high school students from around New Zealand who made the cut. “The last time we sang and rehearsed together in a room was before Covid struck. I’m super excited to get back together and continue our singing as a choir in December. I am counting down the days.” The New Zealand Secondary Students Choir perform at Lower Hutt Town Hall on 18 December.
BY F R A N C E S CA E M M S
Tate Le Fia Manatua tells the story of a Samoan Princess who was married off to a Tongan Prince, and her village mourning their loss. The choral number is part of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir’s repertoire, and a special piece for Wellington East Girls College student Lesieli Katoa (centre), who performs the dance solo. It’s one of her favourite pieces because “I get to share something that is a big part of who I am, that being singing and dancing in Samoan, the heritage of my greatgrandparents, and also seeing the smile and happiness that this beautiful piece of music brings to the faces of our audience who come to watch. I am mostly Tongan and
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