Acknowledging 21 years of support from the Wiri Licensing Trust and funding partners.
The relationship first began in 2001 with funding obtained for an oboe. Special thanks to Alan Johnson, Trust Chair of the day, who was instrumental in supporting the expansion the instrument teaching programme—providing hundreds of primary and intermediate school students instruments and music lessons.
Unfortunately in 2022 the funding relationship ended and the society had to downsize our operations—resulting in the closure of the teaching programme at Manurewa Central School.
We continue our work at two schools in Manurewa providing affordable music tuition to young people.
The Manukau Youth Orchestra was established in 1974. We provide affordable music tuition for young people and run several bands and orchestras based in Manurewa.
The orchestra & band subscription is $6 for the year, the three day orchestra camp costs $20 and concerts are always free. Cost of music lessons in our three schools varies according to funding. Contact the Musical Director and Instrument Tutor Joseph Allan for more information or to join any of the orchestras or bands.
The senior orchestra practises Tuesday 6:30pm to 8pm at Hillpark Primary School in Manurewa. A three day camp is held every year to learn new music. The senior orchestra performs three major concerts each year and one or two informal garden concerts. Orchestra members are aged 8 to 18 years. In December 2017 we started the Manurewa Mariachi Project which we plan to run in the summer months each year.
A stage band or jazz band established in 2016 with the usual line up of 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones and a rhythm section. The band rehearses every Monday 6:30pm-9pm at Waimahia Intermediate.
The orchestra runs teaching programmes at three schools in Manurewa. There are places for 40 students to learn band and orchestral instruments at each school. We have two string orchestra programmes at Manurewa Central School and Hillpark Primary School where we teach violin, viola, cello & double bass. At Manurewa Intermediate School we have our band programme teaching flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet & trombone.
All students have half hour group lessons during school time, are part of the school band/orchestra and are provided with music and an instrument. While students may be taken out of academic classes to for their lessons is important note there are so many benefits of learning a musical instrument. We have created "How to Play Violin and Cello" pages and music reading games to help beginner students. All are available free internet resources.