After another successful event the Yami Sounz Summit will return to Wanaka as a biennial event in 2019. More than 150 budding musicians, singers, songwriters and technicians converged on Wanaka at the weekend for the third Yami (youth and adults in the music industry) Sounz Summit. The event is run by Lake Wanaka SouNZ Incorporated, a non-profit group which returns all profits to music education.
It also runs the Tuki Music Festival, formerly the Rippon Festival, which will be held every alternative year to the summit.
The aspiring musicians were tutored throughout the weekend by industry professionals, such as King Kapisi, Anika Moa and Moana Maniapoto.
Topics covered included song writing and recording, copyright laws and online streaming.
Former Yami student and now tutor Martine Harding said the feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive.
"It was amazing, such an aspiring weekend and filled with so much love."
For Miss Harding, the highlight of the weekend was the Sunday night showcase where the young musicians demonstrated their newly-learned skills.
"When all the kids get up and perform what they have been working on for the weekend is just so awesome."
Miss Harding expected the demand for spaces at the summit to grow, but there were no immediate plans to open it up to more participants.
"At the moment, we’ve pretty much filled that space we are using, but to grow the concept and the summit would be great."
