Manukau Orchestral Society

Manukau Orchestral Society were able to deliver a series of six free concerts for South Auckland schools with help from Four Winds funding.  The theme of the concerts was Peter and the Wolf and included narration from story books.

Across three days, 1,964 students and teachers attended the Manukau Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Schools Concerts.

These concerts introduce Tamariki to live orchestral music through storytelling, familiar repertoire, and interactive presentation. Students experience individual instruments up close via roving cameras and projection, and concerts are designed to align with curriculum learning, cultural awareness, and key competency development.

The aim is to:

• Inspire a lifelong interest in music and the arts
• Provide a positive and memorable cultural experience
• Introduce potential pathways in music education and performance
• Present local musicians - including youth and community players of all ages, as accessible role models

Now in its 33rd year, MSO has grown from a 22-member ensemble in 1993 into a large and vibrant community orchestra of approximately 200 musicians, with around 80 performing in each programme.