Wairarapa Pride CD Launched

A CD featuring Wairarapa artists including St. Patrick's School Choir and singing M.P. Georgina Beyer goes on sale this month.

The title track "Wairarapa Pride" was the winning entry in the Masterton District Council International Relations Committee's contest for music promoting the region.

The music for "Wairarapa Pride" was arranged and recorded by Tony Burt of HUHU Music in Carterton. An arrangement of the New Zealand National Anthem was recorded at the same time.

Brendan Connor of St. Patrick's School in Masterton provided the choral arrangement and recorded the school choir with Neil Maddaver from Sounds Unlimited.

HUHU Music and Sounds Unlimited studios worked together to mix the arrangements and choral recordings for both "Wairarapa Pride" and the "New Zealand National Anthem".

Masterton District Councillor Libby Gosse, who originally suggested the song contest and donated the $250.00 prize, says she is delighted her vision of a Wairarapa song has come to reality.

"St. Patrick's choir has done a wonderful job in achieving this", she said.

The idea of a song arose from a request by Masterton's Sister city Hatsukaichi in Japan for a song representing the region.

The district council's International Relations Committee and HUHU Music joined forces to produce the 15-track compilation of local artists.

They include award-winning artists Barry Saunders from the Warratahs and Wild Geese and Joe Mutu, well-known local singer who appears on the album in his first recording.

Georgina Beyer has recorded a "laid-back lazy lounge" version of Gershwin's Summer Time from Porgy and Bess.

The cover and graphics were designed by Marquerite Vierstraete a local graphic artist.

"The CD is aimed at a mainstream audience and should have wide appeal for Wairarapa people and visitors to the region", Tony Burt said. "The producers see the CD as a good way to promote the theme 'Wairarapa Pride' for the region and work with the local music industry so everyone benefits."

"The intention is to build a framework that will enable musicians, visual artists, designers, the council and tourism industry to promote and market the arts and the region."

The album, which is being marketed through retail and tourism outlets, has been partly funded by Masterton District Council, a Community Arts Council grant and HUHU Music.

The official launch is planned for Masterton's Christmas in the Park on December 20, but the album is on sale from mid-December.

For further information please contact:

Tony Burt 06-379 7462/ 021 682878 tburt@xtra.co.nz

Libby Gosse 06 378 6771

Di Dawson 06 378 9666

Pre orders available via " www.masterton.org " as from Friday 8th December 2000.

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