MEFA 2024

Who does MEFA cater for?

MEFA warmly embraces a wide spectrum of school-aged musical groups, including Jazz Bands, Symphonic Bands, Concert Bands, Stage Bands, Orchestras, Chamber Groups, Choral Ensembles, Small Instrumental Ensembles, and beyond. With each passing year, we expand our horizons and continually evolve. Our mission is centred on creating a festival the opens doors to opportunities, bringing together the school music community under a shared passion for ensemble music. Join our musical family today and be part of this journey.

Exploring the MEFA Experience

MEFA offers a diverse range of activities to enrich your experience:

Clinics and Workshops  

• Dive into over 40 instrumental workshops in 2024.
• Explore clinics covering improvisation from beginner to advanced levels.
• Learn about music courses available at Victoria University.
• Engage in ensemble workshops tailored to different sections of the ensemble.
• Collaborate with mentors in a comprehensive ensemble workshop with your school group.
• Embrace the opportunity to join a festival band consisting of students from various schools.

Performance Opportunities

• Showcase your talent with up to a 20-minute concert on the main stage.
• Participate in massed ensemble groups for a collective musical experience.
• Jam alongside fellow young jazz enthusiasts.
• Perform at pop-up concerts in Wellington or at a local school.
• Be a featured ensemble at a prestigious Gala Concert or during a captivating Lunchtime Concert.
• Shine in our Showcase Concerts at Te Papa.

Highlights from 2023

In 2023, alongside our adjudicated performances, where each instrumental group received personalised mentoring, we achieved:

• Conducted over forty workshops, focusing on individual instruments and enhancing various music skills
• Presented three captivating evening gala concerts with world-class performers.
• Hosted two showcase concerts at Te Papa featuring out of town participants.
• Held several engaging lunchtime concerts featuring our student musicians.
• Treated our attendees to a morning mini-concert by members of the NZ Army Band
• Facilitated combined festival bands and a mass choral workshop
• Successfully launched the 2023 Wellington All-Stars Youth Big Band
• Organized off-site after-show jam sessions, bringing together mentors, teachers and students in a social atmosphere.

Most importantly, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

MEFA is more than a competition; it’s a platform for you to engage, develop, perform, learn, and most importantly, have an unforgettable time! 

Register at www.musicworks.co.nz/mefa-registration