Farewell song for beloved choir master
OBITUARY
Mt Albert Grammar School has farewelled its beloved music teacher Mr Tagaloa Peter Su’a.
The 58-year-old father passed away on November 18.
Mr Su’a taught at MAGS for 10 years. He was a gifted pianist and choir master who gave students performance opportunities they might not have otherwise experienced.
Born on October 16, 1956, Peter was the second of five children.
He grew up in Mt Roskill with his older sister and three younger brothers and went to Lynfield College.
His musical life began at the Pacific Island Presbyterian Church in Newton. He began playing piano for the church choirs as a teenager, later stepping up to conduct them.
Younger brother Russell says Peter was a true role model for his younger siblings.
‘‘Growing up he was out there doing things I’d never consider doing.
‘‘At 16 he was conducting choirs and, as a member of the church and the Samoan community, he was out there mixing with the upper echelon.
‘‘We were in awe and we just tagged along,’’ Russell says.
Peter taught piano privately all his life, helping hundreds of New Zealand children discover the joy of music.
In his 40s he went to Auckland University, gained a degree in music, and then trained to become a secondary teacher.
Mt Albert Grammar’s head of music Milica ZjajicMoon met Peter in 2004 when he came to her as a student teacher.
He was a generous man who went beyond the call of duty, she says.
‘‘One year he noticed that a few students in his form class were arriving at school not having had breakfast.
‘‘He started bringing loaves of bread, tubs of butter, jars of jam, and cereal, and from 7am you could smell freshly toasted bread around the music suite.’’
Mr Su’a worked with many choirs in the community, from a variety of cultures and across many denominations.
He oversaw the recording of a number of church CDs, and was an adjudicator at many choir concerts.
MAGS headmaster Dale Burden says Mr Su’a was an inspirational music teacher.
‘‘He made a huge difference to the lives of many.
‘‘After battling cancer for nearly a year, he is at peace now.’’
Tagaloa Peter Su’a is survived by his wife Janice Pautagi-Su’a and daughter Alexandra.
His funeral was held on Saturday at the Victory Christian Church Centre in Freemans Bay.