The 11-year-old St Mary’s Kaikorai School pupil and fellow pupils Ngaika Rapsey and Olivia Reju, both 10, recently wrote and recorded a song together which won the junior original song category of the Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Sing Out For Justice competition.
Asked how they came up with the award-winning tune and lyrics, Alyssa simply said: "I’m not sure. The tune just came into my head and I just memorised it — never could forget it.
"It was the same with the words."
The trio said the song, Hold My Hand, was about how God was always there for support, "no matter what happens, through the ups and downs".
While Ngaika used to play the violin and Olivia dabbles with a little piano here and there, Alyssa said she could play the recorder, but was keen to learn a "real" musical instrument.
Perhaps the key to their songwriting success is their outstanding storytelling ability.
Their teachers said they were great writers, and it had undoubtedly played a part in the lyrics of their song.
Olivia said they were gobsmacked when their song won the competition.
"We didn’t aim to win it.
"We all just have a passion for it, and when the competition came up, that gave us the chance to put it together."
Ngaika said the process was fun — a bit like putting a puzzle together.
The trio won $250 as part of their prize, which they promptly gave to charities in the Ukraine and those looking after people displaced by war.
The competition encourages students from Catholic schools around the country to "be the voice for peace" by showcasing their musical talents and composing original peace songs or performing heartfelt covers, to inspire audiences with their powerful messages.
The St Mary’s trio were not the only local schools to win prizes in the national competition.
Trinity Catholic College pupils Oliver Lodge, Anamika Jones, Liam Clifford and Harry Lodge also won the senior original song category with Silent Cry, and St Kevin's College (Oamaru) pupils Chris Anne Barrientos, Claire Anne Barrientos, Carter Lambert, Janelle Casitas, Ianna-Marie Abuyabor and Franz Lauglaug won the senior cover song category with their performance of Over the Rainbow.
