Songwriter enjoys ‘We Will Rebuild’ reaction
A Christchurch schoolgirl was at a music lesson when her uplifting song touched the hearts of thousands at the Christchurch earthquake memorial service.
Natalie Hutton, 10, composed We Will Rebuild and performed it with friend Jono Stewart, 11, as part of the Voices of Hope presentation at Wednesday’s service.
The presentation, which featured messages from Christchurch residents, was produced by her mother, Julie Hutton, and Sandra Close.
Natalie said yesterday she had not been able to attend the service, but saw the performance later on television.
‘‘I was at school because I had a music lesson,’’ she said.
Inspiration for the song, which took about 30 minutes to write, was drawn from what she loved about Christchurch.
It was a ‘‘joyful song about rebuilding’’, Natalie said.
The reaction to the song had been exciting, she said.
Natalie, is a prolific songwriter, plays guitar, clarinet, saxophone and piano, but because of shyness only began singing last year.
Julie Hutton said the positive reaction to the song was ‘‘lovely’’.
‘‘People have just said, ‘What a positive way to leave the service and how happy it made them feel’.’’
Natalie also wrote a song for a film Hutton and Close produced for the Canterbury Quakes exhibition at Canterbury Museum.
‘‘It’s really lovely when you see it from a child’s perspective because they’re genuinely optimistic,’’ Hutton said.