The Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival in Samoa kicked off its official program with performances in colleges as well as a night market in the capital Apia.

It was attended by Nisha, the Director of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States in Samoa, Noriko Horiuchi, Chargé d'affaires for the U.S. Embassy, and Senior Sergeant Muao, Bandmaster for the Royal Samoa Police Band. 

The welcome ritual was invoked for the five musicians of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Protocol Combo based in Honolulu, Hawaii, and led by Fleet Bandmaster Lieutenant Commander Luslaida Barbosa.

This year’s festival is a musical tribute to Samoa’s 60^th Anniversary of Independence and is the seventh festival held since 2014 when the vision of jazz vocalist Pulotu Siteine Peta Si’ulepa came into reality with local and international musicians coming together to showcase jazz and genre of music that can promote peace through unity in diversity. 

On Friday morning, the visiting band joined the Police Band in their early morning parade from Police Headquarters to the flag-raising ceremony in front of the Government Building. 

After this, the group traveled to Leulumoega Fou College where Principal Lupeomanū Lolesio Vianea helped create a memorable cultural exchange featuring Samoan songs by the students.

“We have never experienced anything like this,” LCDR Luslaida Barbosa, said after hearing the powerful voices and synchronized clapping and bag-thumping rhythms of the students. 

The U.S. Pacific Fleet Protocol Combo joined other musicians, including the Royal Samoa Police Band, in a musical show held at the Friday night market.

On Saturday morning, the gifted musicians conducted a Master Class at the National University of Samoa with interested musicians enrolled in the Community Music Program taught by Rosaiviti Solomona, members of the National Orchestra, and the Police Band, among others. 

In her opening remarks, Ms. Horiuchi of the US Embassy in Apia, thanked participants for joining in this session on a Saturday morning so they can learn from the musical experience of the visiting musicians. 

International Jazz Day falls on Sunday 30 April and will be celebrated in the early evening at the Taumeasina Island Resort. The concert is free to the public and will feature other musicians.