Best of the Best: Celebrating Nino Raphael

How do you begin to recognize the impact a song leader can have on their community, let alone the impact the community has on the song leader?

Nino departs our shores for new adventures in the UK and we are absolutely thrilled for him. We can only imagine the new connections and communities he will create in in the new chapter on his journey, we wish him all the best. You are the best of the best Nino.

Nino over the last year has brought many creative, connective and inspired projects to Wellington, from his Pirate Musical “The Man whose Mother was a Pirate” find out more here. To Great Donsey Roaming Ghome Choirs find out more here to moving and complex love stories with Vocal Blokes, Songs in the Key of Love find out more here.

Never far from mind has been Nino’s generosity as a Song Leader within our own network. He lead an amazing session as part of Matariki Lead In event. If you are a new song leader looking to fill your cup we are incredibly privileged to have Nino pre-recorded. Find out more here.

In Nino’s own words:

This week I sung and said goodbye to three choirs that I have been leading. Two of them I have lead for a long time and have helped me grow as a musician, leader and a person.

Wososi left me with a beautiful taonga heru to keep my unruly hair in place, and a further love of all music of the world.

Vocal Blokes helped me discover vulnerability and comfortability to be masculine and feminine. And gave me over 30 positive male role models in my life.

I will miss them all and take with them every song to where I go!

Images from Best of the Best Fundraising Concert held at St Andrews on the Terrace, 9th of March.

Thank you Nino, you will be more missed than you know.