On Saturday 10 May 2025, the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts was host to an exciting event as students, tutors, whaanau and supporters gathered for the Te Rauhii Celebration Concert 2025. With the theme “Our Greatness Within,” this special event honoured not only musical talent, but also the growth, confidence, and unity cultivated in Te Rauhii free music education programme.

Our General Music students opened the concert with a set of vibrant and heartfelt songs that reflected the cultural diversity, shared values, and hopeful spirit of Aotearoa.

• Aroha i Aotearoa set the tone with a message of unity and love for all people in Aotearoa. This moving performance included a sign language interpretation, highlighting the programme’s commitment to inclusivity and connection.
• Oye, performed in Spanish, encouraged us all to listen deeply and connect with one another across languages and cultures.
• Don’t Worry Be Happy brought smiles and a sense of lightness to the room, reminding us of the everyday positives in life — and the power of music to lift our spirits.

Students also performed on a range of instruments they’ve been learning this year, including xylophone, recorder, ukulele, and bucket drums. The energy and confidence they brought to the stage was incredible.

Our String Scholarship students delivered a stunning range of solo, duet, and trio performances, showcasing the results of their one-on-one work with expert tutors. A highlight was the ensemble performance of Pachelbel’s Canon, a timeless piece made even more special by its personal connection — one audience member shared it had been sung to him as a lullaby by his mother. That simple story captured what the day was all about: music as a bridge between generations, cultures, and hearts.

The final piece of the day, He Kakano Ahau, brought everyone together with a powerful reminder: we are all born of greatness. As the voices of our tamariki filled the space with pride and purpose, the message was clear — we are watching these young people grow into their full potential, and the future is bright.

We were honoured to welcome Trevania Walbaekken, co-chair of Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa (MENZA), as our guest speaker. Her words of encouragement and advocacy for equitable access to music education resonated deeply with the kaupapa of Te Rauhii.

As the final applause faded, we took a moment to thank everyone who made this celebration possible — our dedicated students, skilled tutors, committed volunteers, proud whaanau, and all of the supporters who continue to believe in the power of music and the greatness within us all. Some of the performers have been with us for several years. Others only joined a few short weeks ago. But no matter where they are in their musical journey, each one of them brought something special to the stage — and we are endlessly proud of the mahi they showed at the Te Rauhii Celebration Concert.