AND THE WINNER IS…
Each year, other important awards are presented away from the bright lights of the VNZMAs
AT LAST WEEK’S Artisan Awards at Massey University, Wellington Elizabeth Sneyd was awarded the inaugural Music Teacher of the Year Tui. Liz founded the Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust in 2013 and has provided free music programmes to over 200 young people in the East Porirua community.
In making the difficult decision the judges commented: “What was significant about Elizabeth was the evolution of the programme ‘from scratch’, her commitment to ensuring it will last well beyond her involvement, and her well-articulated vision for music to enable a more socially just and inclusive Aotearoa.’
Auckland’s Albi & The Wolves were announced as the winner of the 2018 Best Folk Artist Tui at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu. Their debut album One Eye Open highlights their mastery of the craft by seamlessly blending various music genres.
At the 2018 Children’s Music Awards Levity Beet took home the Best Children’s Music Artist Tui. His album My Best Friend Jake is a Cyborg features unusual instruments made from recycled appliances and materials producing quirky, humourous and heartfelt music. The raw intensity of Reb Fountain’s Hopeful and Helpless was recognised with the Best Country Music Artist Tui at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Gore. Recorded live at The Wine Cellar in 2014, it was the last time she would share the stage with the late Sam Prebble.
After taking home the Best Soul/RnB Artist Tui in 2017, Ladi6 took the stage at the Pacific Music Awards to accept the Best Pacific Music Album Tui for her mellow, rich, and textured six track EP Royal Blue 3000. Umar Zakaria was awarded Best Jazz Artist for Fearless Music ata ceremony to open this year’s Wellington Jazz Festival. Umar’s career is exciting to follow and his album is a strong collection recorded in collaboration with some of New Zealand’s top jazz musicians.