26-06-2025
2025 Baysting Prize For Children's Champion Goes To Sistema Aotearoa
Music Director, Sarah Spence of Sistema Aotearoa, who has taught at the Ōtara based programme for 11 years, says:
"Students in some areas of Auckland get given music lessons and music instruments by their parents easily, it's not a problem; why should it be any different in any postcode in Tāmaki Makaurau? Whānau that support Sistema Aotearoa students want success and the joy of achievement for their young musicians. Sistema Aotearoa removes financial barriers for lessons and when ākonga | students commit to learning and caring for their instruments, provide instruments on loan for practice at home - all for free. Last year we worked with just over 1700 students, from pre-school to senior high school, with 62 contributing schools. And Sistema Students enjoy success; they're not shy about achieving – sometimes it's quite loud.'
Anthony Healey, APRA AMCOS Aotearoa Head of Operations, says:
"We are very excited to celebrate Sistema Aotearoa and everything they do. We know music is an incredibly powerful tool and Sistema have determinedly and passionately gone about providing opportunities to generations of young New Zealanders to engage with orchestral music. None of this is easy, but the outcomes of all this hard work are immeasurable.'
Sistema Aotearoa will be honoured and presented with the Baysting Prize for Children's Champion at the 2025 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards | Ngā Manu Tīrairaka ceremony on Sunday 29 June at Tuning Fork, Spark Arena. Hosted by Suzy Cato with awards presented by tamariki from across Aotearoa, the invite only ceremony is preceded by a public Sounds Fun event, beginning 10am - tickets available from Moshtix.
