Community raises voice

Ria Hall. Photo/George Novak

Tauranga Arts Festival is calling on everyone who loves singing to help open the festival in style next Thursday.

Takiri Ko Te Ata has been commissioned from Teraania Ormsby-Teki and Ria Hall, both of Tauranga, with the lyrics and melody available for free at www.taurangafestival.co.nz (under special event).

Festival organisers hope anyone who wants to join in will take advantage of Ria's tutoring at a public rehearsal from 9am to noon on Saturday (October 17) at Mauao Performing Arts Centre, 11 Totara St, Mt Maunganui.

"This isn't about being a professional singer or knowing how to read music, this is about a community raising its voices together to create something special," says Claire Mabey, the festival's associate director.

Takiri Ko Te Ata is an ode to the fairies of Hautere (the bush area behind Pyes Pa) who return to their old friend Mauao every night and depart at dawn.

Ria will lead a massed performance at The Strand waterfront at 7am on October 22.
Ria, who is busy writing material for a new album, laughingly admits she can't sight-read music and says people shouldn't be overly anxious about the lyrics being in te reo Maori.

"If you can get the vowel sounds right, everything else falls in to place," she says.

"My ancestry is both Maori and Pakeha and I'm comfortable performing in both languages, but there's something about singing in Maori ... it carries another kind of spirit with it."

More details at www.taurangafestival.co.nz.