The EFKS Magele I Sisifo youth choir is on a journey not just to learning how to sing, but also to unite as a family through their faith.
With over ten years experience of being a faipese (choirmaster) for the EFKS Magele I Sisifo church choir, Asiata Gadiel Asiata is well used to leading a full choir in the congregation.
But this year, Asiata faced a new challenge – a newly established youth choir where the majority of the collective have no experience of being in a choir.
The new group was the result of a realisation by Asiata this year, that there was a decline in the number of youth joining the main choir.
And having now grown into a group of 40+ members, Asiata believes that this choir is the future for the congregation.
“Being a young tiakono/deacon in the church, I guess EFKS is an ageing church,” he says.
“And I guess looking forward, being a forward thinker, you need to be able to sort of, not replace… but who’s gonna carry on the work of the choir?” Asiata says.
The choir leader shared his vision to Rev Martin Mariota, the pastor of the Magele i Sisifo congregation.
Rev Mariota, who has served this church for just over two years, says Asiata’s vision was the perfect solution for an ongoing issue in the church.
“Since we started two years ago, I’ve always encouraged the youth to join the big choir or the aufaipese but a lot of them were quite hesitant to do so,” Rev Mariota says.
“All of it is a new experience for the majority of the youth choir. Learning how to sing, learning how to control their voice and learning how to read the notes.”
Despite being a newly formed group, the youth choir has gone through a lot as a collective this year.
The choir took part in this year’s World Choir Games in Auckland and also recently competed in the Musika Moana choir competition alongside other EFKS and Pacific choirs.
“A lot of the young people have never been in a choir before, which is why we wanted to take them to the Mana Moana concert last year for them to see an actual live performance of a choir,” Rev Mariota added.
“They were so inspired, especially when they announced the competition, because they announced it at the concert, and it just gave them something to aim for.”
For the young members of the choir, joining the group has not only been a musical learning experience for themselves, it’s also helped strengthen their faith.
Having just joined the church recently, Kaleb Tongotongo has enjoyed being part of the youth choir, and how it has helped him grow.
“Since joining this church three years ago, I’m still a little bit shy around people because I am not used to a lot of people. So I’m glad that this choir’s helped me enjoy it,” he says.
“It’s a good opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, and I just love how we worship and praise our Lord and Saviour, and it’s changed me a lot to be in this choir.”
Fellow choir member Sala Tiumalu who is currently studying at Auckland University, says that being part of the choir has rewarded her in many ways through her current journey.
“At the start, I wasn’t sure what my purpose was completely. It felt more like an activity that I had to just fulfil,” she says.
“I can definitely say now I get a lot of things out of this. It fills my cup. I’m able to break away from the stress and everything that goes on in life, and I am able to just come here and worship with my brothers and sisters.”
With the Musika Moana competition being their last activity for the year, Asiata was delighted with the group’s performance at the competition, finishing just outside the top five choirs.
“There’s a greater calling than just this choir. I’ve tried to teach them how to sing to a one man audience, and that’s the Lord we serve,” the choir leader says.
“I’m so proud of the kids. Anyone can sing, it’s just giving them skills and confidence to do it. But I’m so proud of them.”
