Meet the tutors
Marieke Nation
Community Choir Tutor
Whaea Marieke is the passionate leader of Te Rauhii Community Choir, encouraging students to explore music in a fun, inclusive and challenging way. Marieke consistently has ambitious goals for the choir, giving students the opportunity to engage with choral singing, xylophones, drumming, ukulele, recorders, folk dancing and storytelling through music! Pairing musical excellence with an uplifting, supporting environment across a number of youth choirs in the Waikato, Marieke is able to spark a life-long enjoyment of music in all of her students.
Trudi Miles
Violin Tutor
Trudi is in demand as a musician and music teacher! Currently tutoring a Te Rauhii violin scholarship student, Trudi also has her own private studio as well as tutoring regularly at workshops and music camps throughout New Zealand, Australia and Spain. Through performing with groups such as Opus Orchestra, Trudi knows the importance of performing music with others, gathering her students together for group lessons as well as one-on-one time.
Chris Nation
Violin Tutor
Chris has played the violin since the age of 4, and began playing the viola and guitar when he was 15. He has continued to play and teach these instruments throughout the Waikato for the last 20 years, as well as performing in a number of music groups, currently including Opus Orchestra and Stella Strings. Chris’s incredible skill coupled with his enthusiasm make him a wonderful part of the Te Rauhii team, encouraging students to take the opportunity to play in ensembles to further develop their musical understanding.
Samara Nation
Violin Tutor
Samara is the youngest Te Rauhii tutor, but her musical excellence and teaching skills are not to be underestimated! She is currently balancing studies at Waikato University with teaching violin and choir at a number of Hamilton locations, as well as performing with the Youth Orchestra Waikato, Opus Orchestras, and Hamilton Pop Orchestra. Samara makes sure to celebrate every achievement with her students, making sure they each feel supported and accomplished after every lesson.
Martin Griffiths
Cello Tutor
Te Rauhii is incredibly lucky to have Dr Martin Griffiths tutoring our cello scholarship students. His profound musical knowledge had led him to both teaching across the Waikato, as well as becoming an examiner for the New Zealand Music Education Board. Not only does Martin perform in many orchestral performances across New Zealand, his passion for encouraging the next generation of musicians led him to conducting for the Youth Orchestra Waikato for many years.
