Kaupapa – About Us

Kaupapa – About Us

WHAT IS MENZA?

MENZA  is the national professional body that represents the interests of all music education sectors in this country. 

You can listen to our waiata here

Why become a MENZA member?

• because you care about music education
• because you want to develop professionally
• because you want to be part of a national network of music educators
• because you want what MENZA can offer
• because there is greater strength in one united voice.

What are the MENZA member benefits?

• free copies of the MENZA eNewsletters
• free copies of the MENZA Magazine ‘Sound Arts’ (at least 2 per year)
• access to MENZA events and professional development at reduced rates
• networking, consultation and advocacy for music education in Aotearoa / New Zealand
• great teaching resources, including access to
  • other music teachers websites / wikispaces
  • videos of past conferences and professional development
  • inspiration and best practice examples from youtube and TED talks

Check this page to see the amazing work being done in Music Education around the country.

Organisations

The New Zealand Choral Federation

The NZCF provides a wide range of activities and initiatives designed to support, stimulate and extend choral singers and conductors throughout the country. These include: The NZCF Association of Choral Directors, THE BIG SING, THE KIDS SING, The NZCF SingFest, SOUNZ Choral Composition Awards, Sing Aotearoa Te Puna o te Wairua as well as Regional Workshops.

Auckland Boys’ Choir

The choir consists of between 35 and 45 boys aged 8 to 13+ years all of whom have treble voices. The choir is open to boys ages 8 yrs and above whose voices have not changed. Entry is by way of attendance at a full rehearsal followed by an audition by the Director of Music. Boys accepted into the choir start as probationers and are promoted to full choristers Members are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances throughout the year.

Auckland Girls’ Choir

The Auckland Girls’ Choir was formed in 1998 to cater for a community need to establish a choir involving girls from approximately 8-16 years of age. The girls come from the greater Auckland area and represent many different ethnic and social backgrounds. Entry to the choir is by audition where both oral skills and musicality are assessed.

Auckland Youth Choir

AYC is a high-quality, social and enjoyable youth choir. Rehearsals are held at St. Kentigern School, 82 Shore Road, Remuera, each Monday evening between 7.pm-9.pm during the tertiary academic year. Auditions are brief, painless and worthwhile; they consist of an unaccompanied song (selected by the singer), an aural recall test and sight-singing.

Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra

The APO Connecting programme provides a wide range of education and outreach activities and concerts, designed to excite and engage audiences across the region and to share the orchestra’s passion for orchestral music. The APO offers a range of educational programmes for schools, including concerts and workshops.

Auckland Primary Principals’ Association (APPA) Music Festival

The APPA Music Festival is a time-honoured choral event for primary school children that has been run annually since 1940. It is generally held in the Auckland Town Hall during Term 4. All APPA member schools are eligible to participate.

ASB Polyfest

The festival is an iconic annual event that celebrates the pride and passion of our Maori and Pacific Island communities through cultural song, dance, speech and art. The Diversity Stage allows other ethnic groups to be represented also. ASB Polyfest is generally held in March at the Manukau Sports Bowl, Manukau City.

Sistema Aotearoa

An Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra/Ministry for Culture & Heritage partnership, Sistema Aotearoa is based on El Sistema, one of the world’s most successful music and social development programmes. Led by Dr Joseph Harrop and based at Otara Music Arts Centre (OMAC), Sistema Aotearoa involves professionally trained musicians working with students in a community setting in school, after school and in holidays. The programme also involves a partnership with the APO that brings orchestral music to life in this community, involving the children and their families, schools and communities.

The Ukulele Trust of New Zealand

The NZ Ukulele Trust aims to ensure that New Zealand children, no matter their circumstances, get to experience the many benefits of being engaged with music. Get your students strumming with the largest ukulele orchestra in the WORLD – usually held at the Waitakare Trust Stadium in December with PD and support provided by the Ukulele Trust throughout the year for teachers.

ISME International Society for Music Education

MENZA is a member of ISME. ISME holds International conferences every second year in different countries and regional conferences every other year. ISME is present in over eighty countries ISME is the premiere international organisation for music education ISME respects all musics and all cultures ISME is affiliated to the International Music Council and UNESCO ISME believes that every individual has a right to music education