One of the founding members of Modern Maori Quartet, Matu Ngaropo, talks about the upcoming cabaret style show he helped start with a twist on some kiwi oldies and recent hits.

How did the Modern Maori Quartet come to be?
MMQ got together firstly by being mates who all had interests in music and parties, combining the two regularly. But the official formation of the group didn’t happen until a few years after we had all finished our studies and had been working in the industry as actors, presenters and musicians.

We are all graduates of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School at different times. I was lucky to be training there at the same time as Francis and Maaka, and have always had a huge respect for both of them as performers.

It’s great to be following the footsteps of Howard Morrison Quartet, but with a different angle. What was it like digging into some of the older songs?
It’s always a pretty straight forward process when it comes to selecting material from the golden age of the showbands. We all grew up listening to this music and can easily rattle off favourites of ours and are familiar with most of the groups and their hits.

Knowing where this form has come from is all part and parcel of making sure we are heading in the right direction and respecting what has been done in the past in order to stand strong in the present.

The group’s rendition of Lorde’s Royals was great. What’s the process like to translate a new song?
We tend to keep translating music into Maori to a minimum but this isn’t to say we don’t do it or are adverse to the idea. It’s just a very specific treatment of a piece of music and we have to have the right vision for the song to make sure it’s worthwhile.

The reason Royals works so well is because it’s a Kiwi song which has had massive worldwide success. There is already a collective consciousness about it and therefore we had the ability to abstract it just a little further from its original form, without losing the audience.

Any hints on what new songs might make an appearance at the show?
At this stage we haven’t finalised our set list for Singapore and in general we don’t like to be too hard and fast with this. It’s really important for us to get a sense of a city we’re in and think about what kind of feel the people might respond to.

Also, often we don’t get to see our venues too far in advance, and this also has a hand in shaping what songs might feature. You can bet there will be some of the old classics from the Hi-Marks – and also some original material from us.

We may also have some local music up our sleeves just in case there’s an opportunity to bust it out.

What’s your favourite tune to belt out?
I love belting out the HiMarks classic, Till. It’s got that nostalgic feel, a great melodic structure, lyrics that paint awesome pictures and harmonies that ring for days.

The Modern Māori Quartet lineup at Singapore will be Matariki Whatarau, James Tito, Francis Kora and Maaka Pohatu.

Looking for something to do in the next few weeks? Here’s a handful of events to check out in June – from a familiar Aussie comedic duo with a penchant for sound effects to a festival purely dedicated to coffee.

The Umbilical Brothers

Esplanade Recital Studio
If you haven’t seen these two sound-effect masters, then you really ought to nab tickets to their new show, ‘Don’t Explain’. A skilled fusion of sound, miming and tomfoolery will leave kids and adults in amazement – and stitches.
3-4 June. $35.

Nanta (Cookin’)

Resorts World™ Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa
South Korea’s non-verbal comedy show all about cooking a wedding banquet in time for the event has toured worldwide. Based off of the historic percussion samulnori music, this show turns kitchen utensils into instruments.
3-5 June. $48-$138.

Summer Fair

Block 71, Loewen by Dempsey, 249679
Set in the lovely setting of Dempsey Hill, the family-friendly fair runs all weekend with great arts, jewellery and homeware stalls – as well as kids activities, like a jumping castle and ball pool, a bubble show and more.
3-5 June. Free.

Odyssey: Navigating Nameless Seas

Singapore Art Museum (SAM)
Jump into Earth’s world beneath the water and explore the wonders that humans have discovered with the aid of science and technology – featuring artist loans and commissioned artworks from SAM’s collection.
4 June – 28 August. $37-$42.

Shrek the Musical

Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
The kingdom of Far Far Away gets a bit closer, with the green ogre and talking donkey’s adventure to rescue a princess and save the kingdom from an antagonist determined to get rid of every single fairy tale creature.
8-19 June. $65-$175.

The Painters: HERO

Resorts World™ Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa
This spectacle will either inspire you to pick up a paintbrush, or snap yours in half – don’t dismay, they’ve practiced. The talent from these speed-painting artists is on full display in an impressive show of dance, comedy and mime.
10-11 June. $48-$138.

Mister Maker and the Shapes

D’Marquee, Downtown East
Your kids might go nuts for Mister Maker, but seeing him in person might just make their year. With a big project planned, there’s lots of audience participation – singing and dancing – in the first theatre tour in Singapore.
10-12 June. $35-$110.

Singapore Coffee Festival 2016

F1 Pit Building
Your morning dose of energy gets its own festival. Like any festival, you should take it easy by filling the space between espressos to hear talk sessions, gourmet food, entertainment by local musicians and more.
10-12 June. $11-$43.

O.P.E.N.

Various venues
The Singapore International Festival of Arts returns with its annual two-and-a-half weeks of art in all its shapes and sizes – from performances and films to photojournalism and architecture. See the full list of shows at sifa.sg.
22 June – 9 July. $10-$45.

What started as a great way to meet new people in Singapore has become a great cause for those going through life-changing chemotherapy, Gerard Ward finds.

Sitting in a session with knitters Kim Wilson, Virginia Soh, Andrena Gardiner – along with two new members who’ve never been here before – with a pile of perfectly-knit beanies on the table, I could only imagine how many weeks it would take to knit a whole beanie. I’d later find out with enough focus, one could produce a whole beanie in a day/

The Knit for Love project was started by cancer survivor and volunteer Madam Lyn Ee in 2014. While getting her chemo treatment, she would pass the time by knitting – something she was taught when she was younger. Passers-by would notice, asking where she was selling her completed knitwear. ‘If you’ve been to the hospitals here, they’re freezing,’ Virginia says. ‘If you’re under the weather and losing your hair, it’s worse.’

It was when Lyn got in contact with the Singapore Cancer Society that the Knit for Love initiative began gaining traction. ANZA Action’s Rae Moller managed to get our members involved with the initiative, and on the third Friday of every month at the ANZA office from 10am until noon, a dedicated group of women get to mingle with others while working on the instructions Lyn Ee created to make a beanie.

Groups of volunteers around Singapore are knitting beanies for chemotherapy patients – many suffer hair loss during treatment. Kim explains that participating hospitals will give those who are going into chemotherapy for the first time a beanie. ‘There’s about 1,000 new cases of cancer in a year,’ Virginia says.

After a few dozen beanies are completed by the group, they’re delivered to the Singapore Cancer Society to check that they’re all up to scratch. Afterwards, they’re given individual bags with a personal message from the knitter. ‘You can put a greeting, like “best wishes” or “hope all’s going well” and you sign your name if you wish,’ she says. ‘It is absolutely the sweetest, it’s lovely.’

Each beanie follows exact directions laid out by the Singapore Cancer Society.

‘It’s my understanding that the people that go into chemo for the first time, they are given a beanie,’ Kim says. ‘The biggest thrill of all is to actually see someone walking down the road – and we know the patterns off by heart – and see someone with one. You want to go over and say hello, but you don’t.’

Outside of the meeting in the ANZA office, Kim and Virginia – who are on their third year with the initiative – talked about the times they would work on a beanie. ‘When the rugby comes on…’ Virginia begins, moving her hands as if to knit.

‘I’m not as adventurous as you,’ Kim replies. ‘If I’m watching the rugby I think I have to work on a junior one. The husbands are going “Go All Blacks” and I’m going “I dropped my bloody stitch”,’ she laughs.

Between the two of them last year, they knitted over 100 beanies. ‘We know the pattern almost off by heart,’ she continues. ‘It’s very easy to multitask. If it’s the wrong stitch you automatically know.’

What has given this group another benefit for members is its introduction to Singapore for newbies. Sitting together with long-time residents gives first-timers to the country a fantastic source of information about the city. ‘Generally the knitters have come from word of mouth, like “I know a friend who knows a friend who knows…” type of scenario,’ Kim says. Two new knitters during this session had only been in Singapore for less than six months. ‘They actually didn’t know anybody until they came upstairs,’ she says.

These meetings have created friendships, with the knitters often going out for lunch afterwards, exploring what the city has to offer. Because of how involved ANZA members can be with charities, it’s another opportunity to find out what other initiatives people are working on.

Virginia Soh and Kim Wilson with Andrena Gardiner and first-time visitor Judy.

The initiative has also allowed those who are currently experiencing cancer either for themselves or within the family to talk to others about it. ‘Quite a lot of us have lost people – myself included – to cancer, so you want to help out,’ Kim says. One of the previous members who moved back to Wellington has continued her knitting in New Zealand, donating her beanies to the Wellington Cancer Unit.

‘When Lyn started this, she said she was teaching people from across Singapore, mainly locals who go to learn knitting,’ Virginia says. ‘They could be someone who just wants to know how to knit. There’s someone who actually themselves is a cancer survivor, or a relative or family member, and apparently it’s a good avenue for opening up, telling the person next to you about their experience. Whether they’re a cancer patient, or someone they know, it’s a conversation opener. It’s also good therapy for a lot of people who come.’

For anyone feeling like giving this a go, Kim and Virginia encourage knitters of any – or no – skill to come to the monthly meeting. If you can, bring 4mm knitting needles and some 8-ply acrylic wool. The beanies use acrylic wool because it’s cooler than wool, and easier to wash. ‘A lot of people don’t know how to wash wool properly,’ Virginia says. ‘Acrylic can be just be thrown into the washing machine, no problem.’

Knit for Love meets on the third Friday of every month at the ANZA office at 47A Kampong Bahru, 169361, from 10am to noon. Email anzaaction@anza.org.sg for more information.

Spending some time in the ANZA Investor Group could answer all your lingering questions, and make a few friends along the way, Gerard Ward finds.

There are groups within ANZA covering all the bases, from sports and photography to wine and book clubs. Most groups form purely because someone was looking for a particular group, and decided to start their own. Why would a topic as big as investment not be catered to?

‘I first joined the ANZA Investor Group shortly after moving to Singapore as a way to get to meet other Australian and New Zealand professionals who shared a similar interest,’ ANZA Investor Group coordinator and fee-based financial adviser Jarrad Brown says. ‘Singapore is a popular destination for expats looking to progress in their careers and build their asset base, and I felt that such a group would be an excellent avenue to share ideas and discuss strategies.’

‘We usually have 15 to 20 people attend each of our meetings, and they’re held on a Wednesday from noon to 2pm at a restaurant or café,’ Jarrad says. This year members will be meeting up at Club Meatballs on China Street.

At these meetings, a guest speaker is invited to come talk about a particular topic – ranging from a gold explorer, Australian property investment adviser or fixed income portfolio manager. The guest speakers were introduced this year with the aim ‘to expose our members to as many topics and opportunities as possible, to encourage them to ask more informed questions and empower them to make more informed decisions about their own finances,’ Jarrad says.

From there the group discusses and socialises over lunch, usually following up with those last-minute questions. ‘At each of the meetings we have people with a wide range of financial experience, from portfolio managers through to those who are just starting to dip their toes in the water when it comes to investing, and this makes for a very meaningful discussion,’ Jarrad says.

What makes the group more than just a networking session is the ANZA Investor Group Portfolio. Working in Australian dollars, the group reviews investment portfolios as if it were a true fund. ‘The ANZA Investor Group portfolio has only just been started this year with the aim of encouraging more involvement, creating more information and ensuring that our guests and members have an opportunity to have a “hands-on” experience in constructing, managing and reviewing an investment portfolio,’ Jarrad explains.

‘We review the existing portfolio’s performance, how the various assets have performed, and also discuss and agree on whether we will add the particular opportunity that was presented to the portfolio.’

Presentations to look forward to this year include an Australian gold miner listed on the ASX, a property investment adviser focused on Australian residential property, a Singapore-based fund manager focused on Asian equities and the CEO of a rapidly growing social media company about to list. ‘One of the key benefits of the group is that there is never any sales pitch to our members, and never will be. It is simply an open forum for any and all questions to be asked and discussed.’

‘Having been involved in the group for over two years now, and reinvigorating the group this year, I must say that the key highlight for me to date has been meeting other Australian and New Zealand professionals in an environment where we can openly share ideas about our personal finances,’ Jarrad says.

For anyone interested in finding out more, all it takes is a quick email to find out more. A big part of what makes ANZA great for members is how supportive each group is, no matter what the topic – ANZA Investor Group is no different.

To join the ANZA Investor Group, email Jarrad at anzainvestorgroup@gmail.com.

Australia’s finest classical performers are coming to Singapore, Gerard Ward finds.

With quite a history in classical music – his uncle being Charles Mackerras and being a descendent of Isaac Nathan – Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Alexander Briger is banding some of Australia’s best musicians together for the upcoming Australian World Orchestra concert. We ask the recently appointed Officer of the Order of Australia how he managed to pull together a dream team of players from 53 orchestras worldwide.

Can you remember what first introduced you to classical music?
Originally it was the violin, which I started at the age of six. At the age of 12 I started to take violin very seriously and practice all day long and that passion for music quickly turned to conducting – also at the age of 12 – after I saw my uncle, Sir Charles Mackerras conduct in Sydney.

Was there a particular song that made you want to be part of it all?
Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 4, Third Movement! That was the exact piece I heard my uncle conduct with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. I was so moved by it that I thought there and then: ‘That’s what I want to do – control this music like my uncle is!’

Coming from Australia, What was it like to study and conduct around the world alongside players in Europe, where classical music has more prominence?
I must say it can feel quite overwhelming. Australians are doing so well everywhere, but there is the feeling that we are a long way away and that we are generally unknown as classical musicians, so we have to work extra hard to get there. Thankfully Australians are very well liked around the world for our personalities and humour!

Did you feel you needed to prove your worth to everyone coming from Australia?
Absolutely. There’s the feeling overseas that Australians don’t really know much about classical music. I presume because we are such a young country without the cultural history of Europe, and that we’re so far away from Europe and the US, that we really have to prove ourselves to different nationalities. Just because we come from Australia, doesn’t mean we don’t understand Mozart, Beethoven or Puccini!

How hard was it to convince Australia’s best to come together, given they were all over the world?
It was the simplest thing on Earth. There wasn’t one player who didn’t want to do it and we had all been talking about it for decades beforehand. It just needed someone crazy like my sister and I to organise it!

Can you explain a little more about how the AWO has changed over the years?
It grew enormously almost immediately. The standard was so high that word spread quickly. Firstly we had top international conductors want to come to Australia to perform with us and then we signed partnerships with the likes of the Sydney Opera House and the Australian government fell in love with the concept as it shows the world what Australians are capable of culturally.

Any hints on what to expect at the Singapore show?
It’s our 5-year anniversary and we are making it all about Australia – like the first year. We have a great programme of Boléro by Ravel, Tchaikovksy’s Fifth Symphony and a magnificent new piece that we have commissioned by leading Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin, a concerto for eight double basses – a world first, and should be a thrilling new work.

Last question, what’s got to be one of your all-time favourite pieces to conduct?
Mahler’s Ninth Symphony – it’s enormous and so incredibly emotional.

The Australian World Orchestra will perform on 1 October at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets are on sale now.