“Voices of Our Ancestors”, featuring accordionist Grayson Masefield, Alanah Jones, Andrew Beer, Sarah Watkins and Nan Zhou, is a cross-cultural musical journey which blends classical Chinese poetry with Māori folk songs, conveying the ideal of a shared human destiny through the universal language of music.

Leading New Zealand musicians have worked together in transcribing some well-known traditional Māori folk songs into chamber music scores with some added Chinese lyrics. Classic Chinese poems have also been rearranged and reinterpreted by internationally acclaimed musicians. Chinese singers will perform Māori songs in the Māori language, while Māori singers will perform Chinese poetry songs in Chinese.

The sell out concert will be held at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand on
May 18th, 2025.

The entire concert is connected through a dramatic narrative, with a large on-stage screen projecting dynamic visuals of the Māori songs and Chinese poetry. This integration of poetry and music enhances each piece, breathing new life into them and guiding the audience across boundaries of history and culture.

“Voices of Our Ancestors” is not just a concert but a cultural dialogue with profound meaning. Through the unique language of traditional folk music, it conveys respect and love for diverse cultures, building a bridge of mutual understanding and appreciation for people around the world.