Judges Panel
Dr Lotte Latukefu
Musika Moana Judge
Dr Lotte Latukefu, of Tongan/German heritage is Head of Performing Arts at Excelsia College in Sydney. Prior to that she lectured in the Faculty of Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong for 18 years. She is known, internationally, both as a researcher within the field of Higher Music Education as well as a world class Mezzo-Soprano.
During high school, Lotte regularly performed with a Pacific Island cultural group, showcasing the vibrant traditions of her heritage. She pursued music at a tertiary level and has since published research on the preparation and performance of a distinctive canon of contemporary songs that engage inter-culturally with Asian and Pacific cultures, investigating Asian-Pacific identity within art music, particularly contemporary art song.
Tuilagi Dr Igelese Ete
Musika Moana Judge
Dr. Igelese Ete is a powerhouse in the realm of Pacific music and academia, holding the esteemed
Samoan chief title Tuilagi from the village of Fatausi. Hailing from the villages of Faleālupo, Lalomālava,
Fusi, and Vaovai in Samoa, Tuilagi is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean: Pacific at Massey
University’s College of Creative Arts in Wellington, New Zealand.
His expertise and influence are globally recognized, as evidenced by his selection as part of the international juror panel for the World Choir Games in July. He is also a member of the governance board for the NZ Choral Federation.
Fepulea'i Helen Tupai
Musika Moana Judge
Helen Tupai is the Music Director and founder of the renown Signature Choir. With over 40 years of experience composing, teaching and performing, her music is performed by groups all over the world.
She is the creative director and visionary behind the critically acclaimed 'Mana Moana' project, a historical partnership between Signature Choir and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), which has sold out shows at NZ's most prestigious concert venues, including Spark Arena (Auckland) and Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington).