21 June 2024 - 0 Comments

To celebrate the success of the very first 'Island Base Masterclass' Programme, the class of 2024 came together for a very special graduation ceremony. It was the first time they have all been in the same room together, and it was wonderful to see the strength of the connections that were built. The night was focused on the Island Base mentees, seeing their progress and passion come to life has been truly inspiring.

Founder/Managing Director Jazz Lolesio's passion and heartbeat has always been for 'Island Base' to be a beacon of hope and empowerment for South Pacific youth. As a non- for-profit organisation, their dedicated team of Mentors and Music Industry Champions all share a fundamental belief: 'Young People Matter'.

After the closure of one of the largest music and audio engineering schools in the country, many students were left adrift, wondering how to navigate the seas of the music dream without a compass. Jazz Lolesio didn’t hesitate to use her industry connections to establish a mentor-based music programme and secure funding to help emerging artists learn from those who had gone before them.

Island Base's Masterclass was born and grew into its own success story. And it's been led by Programme Lead, vocal coach, recording artists, DJ and mentor Sandy Mill.

Some of the mentoring artists, Sam V, Huia, Rei and Hollie Smith, performed for the mentees, followed by a panel discussion in Q & A style, which allowed for even more knowledge to be shared. It was an incredible night, soaking in what had been accomplished as a collective.

Hearing from both mentees and mentors about the success and benefits of the Masterclass programme was incredibly rewarding. Here's to the impactful moments they shared and to the bright futures of our aspiring young artists, as they embark on their music journeys, equipped and empowered to pursue their dreams... Look out for them!

A special thanks to the programme funder Sky City Trust, Pub Charity for helping with the Graduation event and good friends from The Fringe District and Pacific Media Network for showcasing the artists. Their support has been invaluable in making this journey possible.

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