Sarah Spence
Music Director
Bachelor of Music (Honours) Cello Performance, RNCM
German Master of Chamber Music, Robert Schumann Musik Hochschule
As Music Director, Sarah Spence directs the musical delivery of the Sistema Aotearoa programme. Through leading the tutor team and the design, development, and implementation of the curriculum, she creates an exciting and high-quality teaching environment. This makes Sistema Aotearoa a rewarding and interesting setting for tutors to work, and an inspirational and fun place for ākonga to learn.
Sarah is a highly-skilled professional cellist. Alongside her role at Sistema Aotearoa, she regularly performs in Auckland’s professional orchestras, records, tours with various groups around the country, and has played with visiting artists across musical genres such as Sol3Mio, Hugh Jackman and Tami Neilson. Her pedagogical experience was developed here in Aotearoa as well as in the UK and Germany.
Sarah has extensive experience working with all age groups and stages of learning, and believes music can play a key role in developing life-skills that create a strong foundation for success not only at school, but into the future.
Anne Filimoehala
Lead Tutor
Anne Filimoehala was raised in a musical family. Her father, a musician himself, dedicated his life to brass bands in Tonga and taught Anne and her siblings how to play a brass instrument. She learnt how to play the tenor horn at the age of 6 where she then went on to join the Auckland City Youth brass band along with her siblings, learning from Andrew Leech and the late Mike Ryan. She then played for Howick Brass under the baton of Graeme Brown and is currently the principal solo horn for the Waitakere Auckland Brass and Central Auckland Brass Band.
In 2015, Anne competed in the junior horn’s solo competitions for the New Zealand National Brass Championships, where she placed 1st in the Horns and qualified to Junior championships, and placed 3rd overall. In 2016, she competed in the regional under 19’s solo competition, both fast melody and slow melody where she placed first in both, and won both awards again for the same category in 2017. In 2018, she competed in the open age category, where she gained first place in the slow melody class, qualifying for the champions of champions slow melody category which she also won.
In addition to playing the Tenor Horn, Anne started learning the violin when she was 9 years old. She has learnt from many violinists including Izabel Mandache, Iselta Allison, John Seager, William Hanfling, Dean Major and Elizabeth Holowell. In 2021, Anne graduated from the University of Auckland with a BMus (Hons) under the tutelage of Mark Bennett, majoring in Classical Performance in violin.
Anne has recently been appointed as Lead Tutor at Sistema Aotearoa, where she teaches Violin, Viola and Brass. She also teaches at ACG Parnell, is the co-founder of “The Terrific Trio & Co.” concert series, and also runs her own studio where she teaches privately.
Justin Michael Ng
Programme Administrator
Insert Bio Here
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.