Southern View: November 02, 2023
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Thursday <strong>November</strong> 2 2<strong>02</strong>3 5<br />
Filipino choir showcase<br />
a ‘second family’ affair<br />
• By Sasha Watson<br />
“A SLICE of paradise” is how the<br />
Musika Filipinas Aotearoa choir<br />
is described by soprano singer<br />
and choir member, Elle Ballado.<br />
She has been in the group since<br />
2<strong>02</strong>1 after her family moved<br />
from the Philippines to New<br />
Zealand during the pandemic.<br />
Said the 23-year-old Woolston<br />
resident: “I was excited to be a<br />
part of the group . . . It’s like being<br />
a part of a second family.<br />
“Being welcomed into a group<br />
of like-minded people reminds<br />
me of home and my culture and<br />
heritage. I think that many immigrants,<br />
especially Filipinos,<br />
feel lonely.”<br />
Ballado said her parents were<br />
also members of the choir.<br />
“Finding a tight-knit<br />
community helps reduce<br />
homesickness<br />
and reminds<br />
them they are<br />
not alone,” said<br />
the third-year<br />
Canterbury<br />
University<br />
student.<br />
Elle Ballado<br />
Choir<br />
members will<br />
celebrate Filipino<br />
TALENT: The Musika Filipinas Aotearoa choir will be<br />
celebrating Filipino culture and talent in the Musika’t<br />
Kultura concert on <strong>November</strong> 11.<br />
culture and talent in the Musika’t<br />
Kultura concert, which showcases<br />
original music, folk, traditional,<br />
disco, pop and modern<br />
love songs.<br />
The showcase will be conducted<br />
by Robert Ty, who moved<br />
from the Philippines to New<br />
Zealand in 2009, and has been<br />
teaching music to children and<br />
adults for about 15 years.<br />
Said Ty: “I enjoy it because you<br />
can develop knowledge of the<br />
different sounds in music. Filipinos<br />
are great at imitating sounds<br />
– which is quite a talent.”<br />
Ty has been conducting the<br />
Musika choir for about a year,<br />
and this will be his first time performing<br />
as the musical director.<br />
Said Ty: “This concert is also a<br />
celebration of the members’ hard<br />
work, dedication and artistic<br />
growth throughout the year. It is<br />
a moment of personal pride and<br />
accomplishment.”<br />
Held at Te Hapua: Halswell<br />
Centre on <strong>November</strong> 11 the concert<br />
will be MC’d by Plivia Alaba<br />
and also includes performances<br />
from the Class Act Barbershop<br />
Quartet, the Canterbury Japanese<br />
Choir, Ritmo Pilipino and<br />
others.<br />
The event starts at 1.30pm and<br />
tickets are available online at<br />
Eventbrite – $10 for adults, $5 for<br />
students and seniors, and free for<br />
children under 12.<br />
Zonta awards<br />
CASHMERE HIGH School<br />
students featured prominently<br />
in the Zonta secondary schools<br />
sports awards.<br />
Meghan Baker (above) won<br />
most outstanding achievement<br />
in a single sport for girls, and<br />
Ben Mclauchlan took out the<br />
contribution to sports administration<br />
(boys).<br />
Meghan has had an excellent<br />
season of cycling. She was a<br />
winner in all her races at school<br />
and club level and was the overall<br />
U19 women’s champion.<br />
The judges said Meghan stood<br />
out because of her ability to ride<br />
successfully on the road, track,<br />
time trials, keirins, madison<br />
and wheelraces.<br />
She was the first-ever female<br />
to win the Harcourts 4 Seasons<br />
Realty Wheelrace at the South<br />
Island championships, She also<br />
won five events at the national<br />
track championships.<br />
She was selected into the New<br />
Zealand team for the junior<br />
world track championships in<br />
Colombia.<br />
Ben received his award as a<br />
rugby, touch and basketball<br />
referee.<br />
Said the judges: “Ben is an<br />
outstanding young referee<br />
in multiple codes. He is very<br />
professional in the way that he<br />
conducts himself and always<br />
commands respect from all<br />
players. Ben is passionate about<br />
refereeing and is always keen<br />
to develop his craft through accepting<br />
multiple appointments<br />
during the year across all three<br />
codes.”<br />
There were 149 nominations<br />
from 22 schools, which the<br />
judges whittled down to 91<br />
finalists.<br />
The Zonta Club of<br />
Christchurch South organises<br />
the awards.<br />
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