Anne Filimoehala
Music Director
Anne Filimoehala was raised in a musical family and entered the world of brass bands at the age of six. Since then, she has built a distinguished career as both a performer and conductor, grounded in excellence and community.
Anne has performed with numerous brass bands across Tāmaki Makaurau and currently serves as 1st Horn for North Shore Brass, earning multiple regional and national awards. She has represented Aotearoa as a member of the National Secondary Schools Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band, and will make her debut with the National Band of New Zealand in 2026.
In 2021, Anne graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the University of Auckland, majoring in Classical Violin Performance under the tutelage of Mark Bennett. Her musical career spans performance, conducting, and education.
From 2023 to 2025, Anne was an Associate Conducting Fellow in the prestigious NZSO Conducting Fellowship Programme. She has toured with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to Tonga and throughout the upper North Island, conducted the Auckland Philharmonia, and collaborated with a wide range of ensembles across the Tāmaki Makaurau community.
As a Music Director, Anne is deeply committed to music education and accessibility. She is passionate about empowering communities through meaningful music-making and takes great pride in nurturing the growth, confidence, and success of the ensembles she leads.
Ammon Pulu
Programme Administrator
Born and raised in Ōtara, Ammon has dedicated his time and talents from a young age to serving his community, particularly through the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Youth Council (TOP SQUAD), of which he was a founding member.
Ammon has had the privilege of working alongside some of South Auckland's most influential leaders, including Lotu Fuli, Reece Autagavaia, Swanie Nelson, Vasa Fia & the late Efeso Collins, and the late Victoria Taupau.
Ammon continues to make a meaningful impact by playing a central role in the success of the Sistema Aotearoa programme. In this capacity, he manages key administrative tasks and provides vital resources to support both students and staff, ensuring the programme runs smoothly.
Mae Wiperi
Kaiāwhina
A welcoming smile, an attuned and conscientious listener, Mae Wiperia is an important part of the delivery team. Mae, is parent of three ākonga in the programme and is the welcoming face at the registration desk each day. Mae looks after the student attendances, ensures smooth communication with our parents, and runs the child refreshments – she’s a certified food handler too! What a great lady.
William Kingi
Youth Advisor
William Kingi (Will) is a passionate advocate for empowering young people through music and leadership development. As the Youth Advisor at SISTEMA Aotearoa in Ōtara, Auckland, Will plays a vital role in fostering youth leadership and providing pathways for young Pasifika musicians. His work is centred on ensuring that young people feel seen, heard, and equipped with the skills to become future leaders within their communities.
In his leadership role at Sistema Aotearoa, Will oversees the youth outreach programme and the overseas excursion programme, providing young people with unique opportunities to broaden their horizons and develop their musical and personal skills. His work is driven by the belief that music can be a powerful tool for personal growth, community empowerment, and social change, and he strives to create an environment where every young person is encouraged to think deeply about how they can contribute to their community.
“My mission is to empower young people by helping them discover their strengths, develop their talents, and prepare them for leadership roles in the future,” he says. “I aim to create a space where youth voices are not just heard but valued, and where cultural identity plays a central role in their development.”
Will’s commitment to youth development is informed by his own experiences and values. He brings a wealth of experience in community arts, music education, and youth leadership, which he has honed over a decade of work both in Aotearoa and internationally. Prior to hiswork at SISTEMA, Will coordinated the Pacific Festival of Brass and a youth internship programme aligned with Auckland’s UNESCO City of Music Strategy and also works as the Pasifika Navigator for Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand.
Iain Rea
General Manager
Iain has played cello since he was in Year 7, playing in school and later, city orchestras. He plays in DCO, a community orchestra, and a weekly quartet. He has a background in arts, media and entertainment and is passionate about community development and the role the arts play in bringing all voices to concert.
Iain’s role is to support the staff to deliver the Sistema Aotearoa programme in Ōtara and surrounds, encouraging musical excellence within a joyful, safe and supportive atmosphere that in turn encourages the personal growth of young people, empowering families and communities.
Shona Roberts
Partnerships
Having grown up in a family that had a rehearsal stage in the basement, it was no surprise when Shona began to work in the arts. She has held senior roles in a variety of organisations, including Auckland Arts Festival, where she was Business & Finance Director for 14 years. At New Zealand Opera she was Director of Artistic Operations, and has also been the Manager of Uxbridge – Howick’s Creative Centre. During a stint in Australia she ran a programming department at the Sydney Opera House and worked for the youth sail training ship Young Endeavour. She’s thrilled to be supporting Sistema Aotearoa’s partnerships.
Justin Michael Ng
Tutor
Justin has been an integral part of Sistema Aotearoa since 2012, initially starting as a tutor. He then took on the role of Programme Support Assistant for five years, followed by Programme Coordinator, before stepping into the Administrator position. Throughout these roles, Justin has continued to teach, supporting students in their musical and personal growth.
Now focusing exclusively on tutoring, Justin has played a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the programme by managing essential administrative tasks and providing resources that support both students and staff. He is passionate about fostering a positive, engaging environment in which young musicians can thrive, both in their musical development and within the wider community.
Claire Scholes
Tutor
Originally from Manawatū, Claire Scholes has been a tutor at Sistema Aotearoa since 2017. She was lead tutor of Sistema’s highly successful Pūoro Pīrere early learning programme, providing weekly music lessons for eleven different ELCs in the Ōtara area. Claire is lead tutor for Woodwinds (teaching clarinet), Musicianship, and Singing. Through singing lessons with Claire, several Sistema akonga have acquired scholarships to private schools and tertiary study in performance music. Claire also loves working with Sistema’s beginner string players, and she believes that classical music education should be available to anyone who has the will to do it, at any level.
As a teacher Claire has been a mentor for the NZSO Todd Young Composer Awards, and guest vocal tutor with the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir. She has also had extensive experience as a teacher of singing, piano and composition at Auckland schools - however, it is the people at Sistema Aotearoa that make this Claire’s favourite place to teach. She especially loves the willingness of all Sistema tamariki to sing without inhibition.
Claire’s background as a professional musician is as a composer and mezzo soprano. She has a Master of Music with First Class Honours in composition and performance singing from the University of Auckland. She has been a Freemasons Artist with New Zealand Opera, sings with the New Zealand Opera Chorus, and is a former member of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Claire performed to over 200 New Zealand primary schools as a touring singer for Class Act Opera. She has also worked as an opera reviewer for Radio New Zealand Concert. Claire has performed as a soloist with multiple ensembles, and has been a finalist and prize-winner in numerous aria competitions, including the Lockwood New Zealand Aria.
As a composer, notable performances of her compositions include Drag Concerto starring the fabulous Anita Wigl’it (Auckland Chamber Orchestra); The Kiri Masterclass (Opera Factory); Live Drag (New Zealand Opera, Auckland Pride); Cuba on Cuba (Sounz Commission, Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings). Claire has worked as an orchestral arranger for Hinewehi Mohi, Six60, Adeaze, Titanium, Maisey Rika, and the Auckland Philharmonia percussionists. She was composer for several short animated films, and she was the New Zealand composer at MODART07 in Sydney with vocal ensemble The Song Company. She has had pieces commissioned by a variety of New Zealand ensembles and published internationally.
Jamie Ashworth
Tutor
Jamie grew up in a deeply musical family, with many relatives working in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) and others pursuing successful careers overseas. Surrounded by music from an early age, she developed a profound passion for it, especially for the violin. Jamie began playing the violin at just four years old and has since earned grades 1–8 in both Violin and Singing, as well as a Performance Certificate in Singing. While she enjoys playing the viola, her primary instrument remains the violin.
Her musical journey has been rich with experience, shaped by years of performance in various orchestras and choirs throughout primary school, intermediate, and at Westlake Girls High School. During her time at Westlake, Jamie competed in prestigious events such as the KBB Music Festival and Big Sing, where her school earned gold awards year after year. She also achieved 1st place in both the North Shore and West Auckland singing competitions.
Through her involvement in orchestras and choirs, Jamie has developed a strong understanding of ensemble playing, musicianship, and performance confidence — skills she is now passionate about sharing with her students. She believes that learning music is not only an invaluable skill but also a deeply therapeutic experience.
Winiata Walker
Tutor
Winiata Walker is a cellist based in Auckland. He studied a bachelors degree in Music Performance with a specialisation in Cello at the University of Auckland. Winiata has been working with Sistema Aotearoa since 2021, where he is dedicated to inspiring and supporting young musicians through high-quality music education and ensemble performance. Passionate about both performance and teaching, he is committed to fostering musical growth and creating meaningful musical experiences within the Ōtara community.
Summer Alexandra Smith
Tutor
Ko Ōtāhuhu te maunga nāna ahau i whakamarumaru.
Ko Hokianga te moana whāinu i taku tinana.
Nō Kōtirana, Ingarangi me Airangi ōku tīpuna.
I tae mai ōku tīpuna tuatahi ki Aotearoa i te tau 1851.
I pakeke mai ahau i Herne Bay.
Kei Ōtāhuhu ahau e noho ana ināinei.
E mihi ana ahau ki ngā tūtohu whenua, ki te hau kāinga anō hoki.
Ko Summer Smith tōku ingoa.
Ōtāhuhu is the maunga that shelters me.
The Hokianga Harbour is the water that replenishes my body.
My ancestors are from Scotland, England and Ireland.
The first of my ancestors arrived in Aotearoa in 1851.
I grew up in Herne Bay.
I currently live in Ōtāhuhu.
I pay respect to the landmarks as well as the people of this area.
My name is Summer Smith.
Summer Smith has been part of Sistema Aotearoa since 2013, bringing a deep commitment to the transformative power of music. She believes music enriches lives, fosters connection, and creates opportunities for collaboration and shared joy.
Summer’s passion for music began in childhood, inspired by her father’s extensive and eclectic vinyl collection, with a particular love for jazz. Alongside her musical interests, she brings a strong creative background as a knitter and seamstress, and a deep respect for Te Reo and Tikanga Māori. These influences shape her holistic and culturally responsive approach to teaching.
Central to Summer’s practice is the concept of Ako — a reciprocal model of teaching and learning where both educator and student grow together. She is a compassionate and empathetic educator who values creating space for young people to express themselves while accessing high-quality music education.
Based in Ōtāhuhu, Summer lives with her partner and four children. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) and has worked with tamariki across a wide range of settings, including primary schools, kindergartens, and early childhood centres in Auckland, Cambodia, and Scotland.