Malu a Miracle musician wins
Miracle Malu has been around music all his life. The 17-year-old is a multi-talented musician and is a big part of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School musical scene. He won the spirit of the festival gong at the regional Big Sing event last month. It was the award his team won last year, so he was surprised to win it by himself, but he still told his team it was due to them that he won. At the Big Sing, he was the conductor for the Poly Group and drummer for the OK Chorale, and he was also in the baritone section. Musically, he does a bit of everything. ‘‘Out of all of those things, I see myself as a performer and all of those are layers on top of that,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve always been involved in performing on stage, singing and drumming and conducting.’’ He said music was one of his strengths that he brought to school and he was trying to use it as much as he could before leaving. ‘‘Being of Samoan heritage, I’ve always been around music – music is the thing that gelled us together. My old man plays guitar and ukulele and I grew up around that. ‘‘Growing up, I started learning keyboard, strings, piano and notes.’’ He said that, in Samoan culture, when he was told a story it would be in a song. When he started at Boys’ High, his musical skills grew from there. He also tutors the Pacific choir and has been the conductor for the past two years. It was a big jump when he was first given the job, but he has enjoyed it. He wants to join the police force when he leaves school, but because he is too young, will look to join the navy to get experience first. ‘‘My overall goal is to join the police force. That’s my way of giving back to the community.’’