Jerome Kavanagh is a world renowned specialist in Taonga Puoro – traditional Maori musical instruments who performs and speaks about the artform all over the world. Composing for film and gaming soundtracks, Jerome worked in collaboration with Christopher Tin on the Grammy award winning indigenous language album, “Calling all Dawns.” Jerome enhances his career portfolio by touring schools and museums facilitating educational workshops, performances and experiences with traditional sound healing therapy. Passionately committed to preserving and promoting Maori culture, Jerome describes his journey as a “cultural pathway and commitment” rather than solely a career. He acknowledges that in order to survive and thrive as a full time artist, versatility is an essential quality.

Tell us a little about your background and career journey.

My love and passion as a Taonga Puoro artist started at childhood. Growing up in a rural area in the lands of my ancestors, I spent a lot of time climbing trees listening to our native birds, like the tui and korimako, trying to imitate their calls with my voice and whistling like them.

I attended Hato Paora Maori Boys College when I was 12, which sparked a lifelong love for my culture and language. During school holidays, I would stay with my Aunty who often pulled out a koauau (Maori cross blown flute) belonging to our family that I was able to make a sound from. I remember the vibration of the totara wood on my hand as I played it, it felt beautiful.

I trained as a teacher at Te Rangakura in Whanganui for three years. The course was set up by Maori leaders and visionaries of that area to address the lack of Maori education for our children, supporting the kohanga kids’ transition into mainstream primary school. It was a groundbreaking initiative compared to the outdated teacher training of the time. Focusing on a Maori style of learning and celebrating our culture and language was an antidote to what my grandfather’s generation experienced (having his indigenous language caned out of him).

During my first year as a bilingual teacher I read a Taonga Puoro resource that (the late) Dr Hirini Melbourne had created for our kids. He was a great source of inspiration for me and still is. I then toured 50 schools around the center of the North Island with a small collection of Taonga Puoro, accelerating my limited knowledge and skill as an emerging practitioner through sharing and teaching.

In 2003, I travelled to South America, exchanging Taonga Puoro workshops for homestays with people in Peru, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. Afterwards, I then worked as a supply teacher in London for about a year and continued touring with workshops and as a performer with Moana and the Tribe from Germany to Russia.

In 2006, I auditioned for a feature film and got the role of a koauau-playing farm boy from New Zealand who falls in love with a German ballet dancer. It was an amazing experience being in Capetown for two months, working closely with the director to include Taonga Puoro in the film. Returning to London I decided to become a full-time artist, as the ‘9 to 5’ life was never a natural path for me.

Following my heart and passion has led me to some amazing places, such as when I wrote and recorded a Maori song with the Soweto Gospel Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Abbey Road Studio. This album won a Grammy as best classical crossover album in 2011. I’m proud of this work as it took Taonga Puoro to the highest of musical awards, and saw me performing this track live at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. I love taking our ancestors’ sound to the world and I feel like I’m only just getting warmed up.

You’re delivering over 250 Taonga Puoro workshops each year – how did you go about getting this side of your career established?

My vision of sharing Taonga Puoro with the next generations will ensure that this art form becomes an integrated part of our future. I have enjoyed touring throughout Aotearoa sharing my whanau of Taonga Puoro with the kids. They need to know this is their music, the original music of this country. The most powerful thing is that these musical instruments resonate with the sound of the natural environment and become voices of the elements. This understanding enhances a personal connection to the environment, celebrates Atua Maori the guardians or spirit of the natural world. Our workshops are inspiring and relevant to who we are and where we live. Tamariki and teachers value these experiences. My company Huia Ltd is a brand of absolute love and celebration of culture, self identity and self-determination.  

You’re branching into the wellness sphere now with ‘sound baths’ - tell us about that.

Our ancestors used our Taonga Puoro for healing themselves so this is not necessarily new within indigenous cultures. I am focussing on reviving this part of Taonga Puoro by delivering a Taonga Puoro sound bath experience which I call Oro Atua. This experience of time and space allows people to chill and reflect within a world that has become increasingly faster. Like my work in schools, the goal is to reconnect people with the intelligence of nature through the Taonga Puoro. I weave this experience across many diverse areas of society; in schools, at the Marae, yoga or dance studios, art galleries or with corporate groups. It’s good for all people and I love seeing the after effects of the sound bath. It allows people to reconnect with themselves again and realise we have an innate ability to heal ourselves if given the opportunity.

Do you have a number one business tip for surviving and thriving in the creative industry?

Value your work and the time it takes to create, as artists are often undervalued and underpaid. I can’t subscribe to poor starving artist mentality as I need to take care of my family. Logistically speaking, this could mean booking and planning my work six months ahead of time. Our ancestors were successful men and woman who walked and talked their beliefs of self determination and I’ve taken much inspiration from their examples. Be versatile and creative while keeping your feet firmly on the ground.

Upcoming projects?

I have a school tour in the South Island then head to Palma de Majorca and Amsterdam with my partner and crew of dynamic Maori artists sharing our beautiful culture through respective art forms from Taa Moko to Taonga Puoro. I come home at Matariki to tour schools and then will head to Wales to perform with the Welsh National Orchestra. I’m excited to finish my Taonga Puoro album, create a sound installation Raukatauri using the sounds of the British Museum collection of Taonga Puoro and share Taonga Puoro sound baths throughout Europe and South-East Asia this year.

Follow Jerome at www.jeromekavanagh.com