First-time writer Ramari wins top Maori song award

After composing and singing her own song for the first time, Ramari Sherman took out the top award in the Maori song section of the New Zealand Aria Competition.
The Te Whakatohea and Nga Puhi descendant won $3000 with her original song, Te Mauri Puoro, which tells of the life force within music.
"I wanted to express how uplifting music is and thought, as it was the beginning of my music journey, it would be appropriate to base my song on music," Ms Sherman said.
"It was more like an a capella and two good friends helped to play taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) throughout my song.
"It was important that I was passionate and enjoyed performing my song, and composing my song helped me do that."
Ms Sherman also competed in the mainstream sections of the three-day classical competition, hosted recently by the New Zealand Aria Trust at two venues; the Rotorua Convention Centre and, for the Maori section, Tangatarua at Waiariki Institute of Technology.
Ms Sherman, a te kura kaupapa Maori o ruamata teacher, said she had never written a song before and was, therefore, overwhelmed with her win.
She was encouraged to enter the competition by her friend and professional classical singer, Maria Kapa.
"I had never studied music formally or entered any classical competitions before and I was nervous but, once I got up there, I tried my best to represent all my whanau who came to support me," she said.
"I have done kapa haka my whole life but it was a different kind of environment. It was a big challenge for me and I had to step out of my comfort zone because there wasn't a big group performing, it was only me.
"I am pleased to have received some good advice from the judges and am overwhelmed to have done so well. I've never won anything in my life."
Ms Sherman was introduced to classical/opera type music when she was about 5, when her grandmother used to take her to National Maori Choir practices.
"I went to practices with my nan up until I was about 10 years old, so that's where it all started for me.
"Since then, I've always wanted to pursue a career in classical singing but I still have a lot of work to do."
The up-and-coming classical singer said she received vocal training once a fortnight in Hamilton in the months leading up to the aria competition and hoped to study a vocal technique course at Waikato University over summer.
She said her next goal was to focus on the National Kapa Haka Matatini Festival early next year, when she would perform with Opotiki Mai Tawhiti.
"I would like to work more on my vocal technique before the next aria competition and hope to either enter again next year or the following year," Ms sherman said.
"I'm extremely grateful to everyone who has supported me and helped me get to where I am now. I couldn't have done it without [them]."