[ad_1]
Primanavia is made up of Pasifika Prima Voce and ManaVia choirs who came together to proudly represent Fiji at the event.
photo: Facebook/Primanavia
The Primanavia Fiji Choir had a landslide victory, winning the gold medal in the Folklore and Indigenous Music and Choreography category. The 13th World Choir Games Monday in Oakland.
Primanavia is made up of the Pasifika Prima Voce and ManaVia choirs who came together to proudly represent Fiji at the event, which is known as “The Olympics of Singing”.
The choir, which has 23 members, with the youngest being 11 and the oldest 40, was formed about seven weeks ago by Primanavia president Sunia Soko and his sister.
Although the siblings teamed up to excel in Oakland, things were not all smooth sailing.
“We started, but at the time we only had a month and three weeks. We had to think about logistics, production and costs,” Soko said.
“With just over a month left, it’s not easy to raise the money.”
Soko and his sister organized fundraisers and sent out proposals to corporate organizations in hopes of getting enough sponsors to make the trip.
“Thank God, three companies came through; Fiji Airways, the Fiji Arts Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs… who provided a grant through the World Choir Games. That’s how it all started.”
Winning a gold medal at the World Choir Games was even more gratifying because most of the choir members had never stepped on an airplane before.
“Seventy percent of our kids are flying for the first time,” Soko said.
“I’m thankful that we not only represent Fiji but also the Pacific.
“I only wish more Pacific islands would come to the World Choir Games and compete in music among the coral reefs.”
The World Choir Games is the world’s largest choral competition, with more than 11,000 singers from 30 countries coming together to perform.
Soko recalled the night they were announced as winners; he heard the results go from bronze to silver to gold and said he was shocked.
“Then they announced the Premanavia Festival, and it was unreal. But now, I am so grateful for the hard work of his 23 singers and choir members, which is really there for all to see.”
Soko has been in the music industry for 12 years and says singing is part of their DNA.
“We sing at funerals, we sing while drinking kava, we sing everywhere. It’s something we can do well. We don’t have to imitate any other style.
“You have the voice of Asia, you have the voice of Europe, you have the voice of America, you have the voice of the African continent. But the world has not yet heard the voice of the Pacific.”
“At the World Choir Games we are proud to be Pacific Islanders.”
The choir, which has 23 members, with the youngest being 11 and the oldest 40, was formed about seven weeks ago by Primanavia president Sunia Soko and his sister.
photo: Facebook/Primanavia
He said that having a good voice alone is not enough to make it to the world stage.
“If people see our social media on Facebook, they’ll see these kids running up the hill singing.
I have always encouraged singers to believe that only by living a healthy life can one sing healthily.
He added: “If you don’t work hard, you get nothing.”
Primanavia is currently preparing for the Tri-Nation Choir Competition in Denmark next year, where only the elite who have won choir competitions such as the World Choir Games are eligible to participate.
Meanwhile, the Auckland World Choir Games come to an end on Saturday.
[ad_2]
Source link
