Te Hāpaitanga and APO hit the high notes

They both strive for the high notes of excellence says HPSNZ Te Hāpaitanga programme lead, Jody Cameron, who recently worked with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) to deliver a unique and unforgettable residential for the eight women of cohort five.

“I was really impressed with the presentation at this year’s Performance Summit by Eileen Strempel, the opera singer and UCLA’s Dean of Music, which focused on excellence in high performance, whether in the arts, music or sport,” says Jody.

“So when Tom Hamill, the APO’s Senior Director of Strategy and Engagement who moonlights as an outstanding photographer for HPSNZ, suggested the learning synergies between his organisation and ours it sparked the idea for the three-day residential.”

The residential, the third for the group, built on the previous ones which had focused on the importance of non-verbal learning as a critical tool for the daily delivery of the highest standard of performance.

Enter the APO whose conductor, principals and musicians shared the way they master their craft and the relevance and parallels coaches in the high performance sport sector can draw from them.

Over the three days the Te Hāpaitanga group watched and learnt how an orchestra prepares as a group and as individuals in a very short timeframe to deliver a performance that is of the highest standard.

“There were a lot of insights and learnings but a few really stood out,” says Jody.

“Practise, practise and more practise. They practise for hours and hours each day to ensure they can not only step into a piece of music on cue, but do so at a standard of excellence which is extremely impressive.

“There is a shared responsibility and leadership. While the conductor sets the vision and tempo, excellence is achieved through the shared precision and commitment of the entire orchestra. Leadership matters, yet the brilliance of the performance comes from the synergy of all members working in harmony.

“One of the most impressive aspects was the incredibly high standard of their work every day, much of which was self-instructed, which is something I strongly believe we can learn from in the high performance sport coaching environment.”

For Jody, the hallmark of the APO was its collaboration and teamwork which ensured they delivered the highest standard art performance to a rapt audience on the night.