NEWS, MEDIA & VIDEO :
KAITAIA MUSIC FESTIVAL is ON!!!From Wednesday Sept 27th - Sept 30th, the Kaitaia Music Festival will be happening. It is a small but exciting start to what will hopefully bring NZ & the World to Kaitaia in years to come. It aims to provide some excellent music events for the community to get together and celebrate and enjoy! COME ALONG - Most events are FREE. Click on the link provided to buy your TICKETS to the opening GALA CONCERT produced by Abundant Life School, Kaitaia.
To BUY your tickets to the OPENIN GALA CONCERT - Please follow this link. All other events for the Festival are FREE to attend : For further information - contact Opeloge at
opeloge@hotmail.com
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/gala-concert-tickets-36694213380?aff=es2
Opeloge was named CreativeNZ's Artist in Residence with the National University of Samoa (NUS). Opeloge will be working with the music department at NUS to develop a show called SIVA MAI which will see it's premiere at the NUS Fale Samoa on Wednesday Oct 18th before it travels to NZ. Opeloge will be giving guest lectures and workshops as part of the project at National University of Samoa over the 3 months he is in Samoa.
A Scene from Opeloge's recent PhD recital - piece called SIVA MAI composed by Opeloge. Featuring dancers Candice Falkland, Theresa Sa'o, Gina Williams and Saia Folau on vocals and Jo Walker on saxophone
Upcoming Performance Recital - SATURDAY MAY 27th - 2.30pm
Will see Opeloge perform music from his PhD compositional folio called MUSIKA. The performance is free to the Public and will be held at the Windsor Park Baptist Church, Mairangi Bay - Auckland. Entry is free. Please be seated by 2.15pm.
Opeloge's MVE choir were part of the male singers accompanying Adele on her recent concerts in Auckland, NZ. 15 members of MVE choir enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime singing with one of the World's leading best selling artists.
Opeloge Ah Sam recently featured on a 7 Sharp / TV 1 NZ story about his Kristin School Politest group performing for the first time at the World's Biggest Polynesian Cultural Dance festival at Manukau Valedrome March 17th, 2017.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/im-really-proud-auckland-school-just-four-polynesian-students-rocks-polyfest
Recent feature on Opeloge Ah Sam, written by Education Journalist Michelle Curran.
Recent Performance of "Siva Mai" composed by Opeloge Ah Sam Quintet at the Auckland Urbanesia Festival 2015 (with guest vocalist - Gina Williams)
Thank You :
Recent trip to the SAMOAN JAZZ FESTIVAL 2015 -
Performing & running workshops at the American Samoa Community College
Opeloge Ah Sam (keys), Dexter Stanley Tauvao (drums), Saia Folau (vocals), Hannah Elise (bass) and Jo Walker on saxophone.
With special guests Ms South Pacific & 2015 Miss World Samoa Latafale Auva'a (vocals) & Edwina Thorne (trumpet)
July 11th, 2015 : Was fantastic to hear my work 'Aua e the tag' performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra featuring soprano Leila Alexander & conducted by Ray Chan. The piece was composed to mourn the loss of my late grandfather who was my first music teacher in Samoa when I was 5yrs old. Here is a video of the sound check before the actual performance at the Vodafone Events Arena (Manukau, Auckland)
A Quick thank you to the talented Valerie Fasavalu, Wesley Lomu, Alastair Ferris, Olivia Just, and Alparslan Semiz for jamming 2 great sets at the Tauranga Jazz Festival Easter Weekend 2015. Check out the photos in the Gallery PLUS my original songs composed and now available on iTunes which we featured at the Festival.
NEW iTunes RELEASE STEPPIN'
The Latest release from Opeloge Ah Sam on iTunes is now OUT -
Click the link below to BUY the new track STEPPIN'
Thank you for your support!
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO for M WINES - NZ, music composed by Opeloge Ah Sam (2014)
Opeloge will be performing with Samoan soprano DAPHNE COLLINS, Cellist JESSICA PORTER, AUCKLAND GOSPEL CHOIR & Andrew Faleatua at the AUCKLAND MUSEUM - Saturday Aug 30th
1.30pm START - Level 2 of MAIN FOYER (through MAIN ENTRANCE) of Auckland Museum : FREE ENTRY
Coming Soon
The new exciting show by Opeloge Ah Sam
Auditions Coming Soon!
A recent review of Opeloge's work with a film by Artist Len Lye "Tusalava"
http://aucklandartgallery.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/new-compositions-tusalava.html
Reviews of We are Pasifika October 2013 :
"Opeloge's music scores possess a cool energy and unforced grandeur" The NZ Herald
"We are Pasifika was like watching the X factor, The Voice, NZ's Got talent all rolled into one, congratulations to Opeloge Ah Sam, it was a wonderful night"Pacific Eye Witness
"Opeloge's music provided a spectacular choral & orchestral welcome, his lyrical tribute to the people of the Pacific was delivered wih sheen and soul by Leila Alexander (soprano) against Loata Mahe's sweet violin descant" The NZ Herald
"We are Pasifika was a big night out for the Manukau Symphony Orchestra which was masterminded ad presided over by composer and conductor Opeloge Ah Sam"The NZ Herald
"We are Pasifika was a blend of Pacific culture and music fused into a night of classical Pacific opera, Sublime" Pacific Eye Witness
WE ARE PASIFIKA - A great success
We are Pasifiak the Concert Event was a great success and lots of positive feedback and reviews. Click link below for the NZ Herald review of the event
Conductor Opeloge Ah Sam with We are Pasifika Soloists (from left to right) - Daphne Collins, Leila Alexander, Rejili Paulo & International Bass-Baritone Eddie Muli'aumaseali'i
A NEW ROLE for Opeloge - Opeloge has just been nominated and voted onto the MUSIC THERAPY NZ Council as a Lay member. Opeloge is a true believer in the power of music to help others and heal so this is a very important role for Opeloge.
World Forum on Music calls - Opeloge has been invited to present at the 5th IMC World Forum on music in Brisbane in November later this year on Music sustainability. Opeloge will focus on how the performance practices of the Pasifika cultures (with a particular focus in Samoan) contributes to keeping musical identities and practices alive in the hands of current and future musicians.
COMING SOON -A landmark orchestral performance
Featuring fantastic Pasifika artists & performers from both Classical & Jazz Fields and a great fusion of Pasifika music together with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra. Featuring music composed & arranged by Opeloge Ah Sam. This will be the first time an orchestral concert performance a this level will be conducted & led (orchestra leader) by Pasifika artists. Opeloge Ah Sam (conductor) & Loata Mahe (violinist & orchestra leader for WAP)
BUY YOUR TICKETS now - click on the link below
Composition & Video below was created for the 2013 AWATEA PACIFIC JAZZ COLLABORATION celebrating International Jazz Day - featuring some of our Pasifika music students from Te Koki - NZ School of Music (Victoria & Massey Universities - Wellington)
International Lyric Tenor Ben Makisi (4th from the left) spent time inspiring and sharing with Pasifika music students at the NZ School of Music. The students enjoyed hearing about Ben's career and journey. Ben is of half Samoan/Half Tongan descent.
The biggest Pasifika Concert of it's type is happening this year on SATURDAY October 19th 7pm - featuring many exciting artists such as International baritone Eddie Muli'aumaseali'i, radio host Yolande Ah Chong, Soprano Rejieli Paulo, Soprano Daphne Collins, Several Pasifika church groups from South Auckland, along with several Secondary school choirs from around Auckland, also featuring Patrick Tanielu (drums), and Andre Paris (saxophone) with the exciting Manukau Symphony Orchestra.
Details on the link below :
NZ School of Music Pasifika Music FREE Exam Recital coming up Sat Oct 27th 10am at ACR in the Kelburn Campus.
Opeloge Ah Sam has recently become the first ever Samoan or Pasifika musician to conduct the NZ Symphony Orchestra. This fantastic honour took place on Monday Aug 13th at Victoria University in Wellington, NZ when Opeloge conducted the NZSO for a performance to celebrate the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa & NZ which is now 50 years. On top of that, the NZSO performed with the Victoria University Pasifika Ensemble an original composition by Opeloge Ah Sam called Tula'i Samoa (Stand up Samoa) written especially for the event which was attended by many Parliament MPs and the Prime Minister of Samoa the Hon Tula'epa Sailele.
Opeloge Ah Sam pictured (left) about to conduct the NZSO, Victoria University Pasifika Ensemble & soprano Isabella Moore (also at Victoria University-NZSM) performing the beautiful Samoan love song LA'U ROSA by Opeloge's great grandfather Mata'utia Karauna Solomona. Opeloge arranged a special version of La'u Rosa for the event.
Opeloge Ah Sam has now become a Samoan chief with the title of Matatumua added to his name. Therefore Opeloge's full name in particular within Samoan chiefly and cultural context is Matatumua Opeloge Ah Sam. Opeloge considers rthis an honour and a priviledge bestowed upon him by his family in Samoa.
BIG NEWS - the Debut Single SAY I was ranked on Apples - itnues TOP 100 Jazz Tracks for NZ in March 2011 -
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
OPELOGE & his music students from MANGERE COLLEGE - For the first time, Mangere College sent a Jazz Band to the Tauranga National Jazz Festival in Easter 2011 to compete in the youth Festival. The band returned with GOLD, BEST VOCALIST for Valerie Fasavalu, Most Outstanding Pianist for Sarah Pikaau (who also plays bass for Opeloge's Jazz Quintet), as well as BEST FIRST PERFORMANCE by a first year band.
(Pictured from left to right : Valerie Fasavalu, John Tongia, Marlon Havea (back), Sarah Pikaahu, Opeloge Ah Sam (back), Leonard Folau & band drummer Finau Filipe with their awards from the Tauranga Naotional Jazz Festival Youth Competition)
