Concert inspired by old newspaper clipping
Joseph Allan was inspired by an old newspaper clipping from 1997.
The article in the ‘‘Manukau Courier’’ from November 6 1997 reported that musical director Joseph Allan took the Kedgley Music Centre Band on a tour of seven schools.
Allan then decided that it was time to up the game of Te Toi Taiohi Orchestra and perform eight different concerts in one day, which all happened last week.
The Manurewa resident says he was so glad to be doing it again for the elderly and preschoolers.
‘‘It’s a whole lot of fun. We did two tours last year visiting three venues on each day. I noticed there was quite a bit of downtime on tour. Then I had this vague recollection that on previous tours we had performed quite a few more on the day.’’
‘‘I searched for an article I had scanned on my computer and found the answer in an article in the Manukau Courier from 1997.’’
Allan had hired a bus for the day to take the orchestra of 32 students and all the equipment to each location.
‘‘I’ve taught the kids how to unfold the stands in under a minute and we have bench seats for the cellos - the rest will stand,’’ he says.
‘‘The cellos and basses will go in the front of the bus - every last detail was planned. I even went back to Wattle Downs BUPA on Monday before the concerts to recheck the layout.’’
It was a ’rock’n’roll’ - in and out type performance and Allan says that the whole day of concerts was a win-win situation.
‘‘The kids enjoy the attention and the elderly love the young performers doing something positive. The concert process affirms to students what they are doing is worthwhile. All that practise - definitely worth it.’’
Allan says he enjoyed absolutely everything about the day.
‘‘The meet and greet at the end of each concert, interaction with the audience. My son Nathan played up a bit. He’s only six, so by the end of the day he was really playing up for the crowd.’’
‘‘The kids were very tired. I’m so proud of them. An amazing achievement from all involved,’’ he says.
Te Toi Taiohi Orchestra is the junior orchestra and pathway to the Manukau Youth Orchestra which Allan re-established in 2000.
Many of the orchestra members are from the orchestra programmes run by Joseph Allan under the Manukau Youth Orchestra at Hillpark School and Manurewa Central.
Instruments and programme costs are largely funded through the Wiri Licensing Trust and funding partners Trillian Trust and The Trusts Community Foundation.
What happened action packed day: on the
There was a mix of Nursery Rhymes, Maori Songs/Waiata, Old time favourites (Billy Boy, Goodnight Ladies), Classical music ‘‘Ode to Joy’’ by Beethoven, Hymns (Tama Ngakau Marie, Amazing Grace, Crimond) and old fashioned entertainment.
The concerts started at 9:30am - Manurewa Baptist Church playing for Manurewa Playcentre and Kiddywinks Kindy Kids.
10:30am - Wattle Downs BUPA - split into two groups
11:30am - Acacia Cove Village, 131 Wattle Farm Road Wattle Downs.
1:00pm - Erin Park, 50/60 Russell Rd, Manurewa - split into two groups
2:30pm Elmwood Rest Home, 131 Hill Road, Manurewa - spilt into two groups