AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

22 March 2007

Students take ZooMusic to new level

On Friday, 30 March, zoo visitors can expect some less-than-typical zoo noise when 175 students take to the “stage” and perform original musical compositions, inspired by the animals that will help make up their audience.

The students from Point Chevalier School have taken up the challenge of creating a composition to represent the behaviours, physical characteristics, habitats and conservation status of animals in a musical form. With assistance from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Partnership with Schools (APOPS) programme, the year 4 - year 6 students visited the zoo in February and spent time with zoo educators learning about their chosen species and observing their behaviour.

Each of the seven classes focussed their compositions on a specific zoo animal – elephant, flamingo, koi carp, lion, spider monkey, blue and gold macaw and Galapagos tortoise – with the project lasting six weeks. Each of the seven compositions will be performed in front of the chosen animal’s enclosure.

Charged with the task ahead, students received mentoring from Auckland Philharmonia cellist Katherine Hebley to help compose their pieces, which will be performed on instruments ranging from marimba and drums to flutes and violins. One piece even includes a watering can.

“The project has been a great opportunity for students to not only learn about zoo animals, but also about composition, with the aim of lifting the profile of musical composition in primary schools,” says project co-ordinator, Point Chevalier School senior teacher in performing arts, Chris Moore.

“National and international research indicates that children are inspired and learn most in music when given composition and performance opportunities.

“Although time has been limited for this project, the students have responded well to the considerable challenge of representing an animal, its environment and heritage through music.

“Our students already have strong connections with the zoo due to its location within our local community and the school’s emphasis on Education for Sustainability. To have the students convey these connections through music will be a rewarding experience for both them and the audience,”

Auckland Zoo educator Sue Barker says, “This is a new and exciting educational opportunity for Auckland Zoo. We have previously had schools creating art works inspired by the zoo animals, but this is the first time our animals have been the motivation for musical compositions.”

Members of the public are invited to attend the student performance, listen to the original compositions, and see if the zoo animals react in any way to the music based on their behaviour.

Event information
Students will perform on Friday 30 March (rain date Monday 2 April) between 11am and 1pm. The first performance will take place at the Newstalk ZB Rainforest (spider monkey enclosure) followed by a performance at Animal Planet Elephant Clearing. Normal zoo admission applies. More details at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz.

ENDS

ABOUT AUCKLAND ZOO
Auckland Zoo is an enterprise of Auckland City Council. It is home to the largest collection of native and exotic wildlife species in New Zealand (over 1900 animals and 200 species) and attracts over half a million visitors annually. It is becoming increasingly well known nationally and internationally through the award-winning television programme, 'The Zoo'. At the heart of all Auckland Zoo's work and activities is its mission: "to focus the Zoo’s resources to benefit conservation and provide exciting visitor experiences which inspire and empower people to take positive action for wildlife and the environment". Auckland Zoo is a member of both the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria (ARAZPA) and the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA).

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