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Tawit Tonga is a talented trombonist who is thriving in the New Zealand music scene. He cites his Tongan heritage and Christian faith as pillars of his musical journey. His deep connection to brass instruments, especially the trombone, reflects the strong cultural and spiritual roots that have shaped his musical path.
“Brass instruments are the closest thing to the human voice,” Tavitt explained in a recent interview with Pacific Day’s Ma’a Brian Sagala. “The only difference between singing and playing a brass instrument is that when you sing you produce the sound with your lips instead of your throat.”
For Tawit, the trombone is more than just an instrument, it is a symbol of his faith and cultural identity. “I think it goes back to our roots and Christianity. Early composers considered the trombone and trumpet as sacred instruments, mainly for religious masses or oratorios. They have a strong connection to religious music, and I think that has permeated the Tongan community as well.”
Tavitt has an impressive CV, having performed with the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra, the Auckland Choir, and currently with the Manukau Orchestra and the Auckland City Brass Orchestra. His love of music is not limited to performing; he also teaches bass brass, conducts school orchestras, and has been appointed associate conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
His teaching job requires him to travel between schools as a traveling teacher, which requires him to master other instruments, such as the euphonium and tuba. “I do more conducting now, mainly leading groups and ensembles, mainly orchestras. In addition to that, I also do some teaching, mainly teaching trombone. And I had to learn the euphonium and tuba in the process of teaching, because the schools need them.”
Tavitt came across the trombone by accident. A music teacher noticed his potential and suggested the instrument when his mother signed him up for music lessons. “We went to sign up for music lessons and the lady looked at me and said, ‘You have lips like a trombone player.’ From that moment on… about 13 years later, I’m still playing.”
While it took Tavitt a while to fully embrace his love of the trombone, the turning point came during his gap year between high school and college. “I asked myself at the end of the year, what was I missing the most? And interestingly enough, what I missed the most was playing the trombone every day. So I decided to enroll in a music degree (at the University of Auckland), and the first time I walked through those doors, I was hooked.”
Looking ahead, Tavitt aims to diversify his musical pursuits, balancing performance, education, and conducting. “I remember when we first chatted in 2021, I really wanted to be an orchestral player, but I feel like as I get older, I want to diversify my interests. Not only through my performance, but also through my education and conducting. I want to be a well-rounded musician.”
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