Music Mix 2025
Nelson City Council, with Nelson Centre of Musical Arts and Multicultural Nelson Tasman, presents a series of weekly encounters with music and musicians.
Music Mix is a chance for people to discover the universe of music, from voices and strings to dance and performance.
These events are designed for people to explore music and opportunities to further pursue their interests.
Sessions are free to attend, and the audience is encouraged to sing, play music, and interact with the musicians.
Imani-J
Date: Saturday 3 May
Time: 11am to 12pm
Location: NCMA
17-year-old Kiwi/Haitian musician Alyahna Sanson-Rejouis (a.k.a Imani-J) is a rising star. Born in Nelson she started her musical journey at a young age through primary school kapa haka, choir and band, as well as taking instrument lessons in guitar, piano and voice. Moving easily between different musical styles from Waiata Reo to Indie-Pop/Rock, RnB, Afro-Beat and Electronic Pop, and writing and performing in English, Te Reo Maori and French, she credits her musical versatility to her willingness to give everything a go.
Now with more than 50 original songs, 10 officially released on Spotify, and 3 different music projects on the go, Alyahna has her sights set on a career in music. This year Alyahna will be releasing 6 new songs and 4 music videos, performing at festivals and events around NZ, and songwriting with RnB producers in London. While this all sounds very glamorous you’ll also find her busking at the Saturday market in town, teaching singing to school kids, and volunteering at youth music events. Learning an instrument and getting involved in anything musical when she was young, started Alyahna off on a journey that she never could have imagined.
Footloose Ceilidh Band
Date: Saturday 10 May
Time: 11am to 12pm
Location: Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre
Footloose Ceilidh Band is a Celtic group performing on Concertina, Guitar, Double Bass and Irish whistle). Experience the joy and hilarity of Irish Dancing with live music and a caller.
Archi Con Legni
Date: Sunday 18 May
Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: NCMA
Archi Con Legni is the combined Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls string orchestra. It was established 13 years ago and is now directed by Lissa Cowie. For the last two years Archi Con Legni has performed at the Aurora Festival in Christchurch where is has achieved Silver status and has been recognised with two Soloist Awards.
The Combined Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls Choir
Date: Saturday 24 May
Time: 11am to 12pm
Location: Victory Community Centre
The Combined NC/NCG Choir formed for the first time in 2024 under director Zoe Dee. The group captures the choral sound of the two colleges and has performed at the Big Sing, the 'Between Two Colleges' concert and has performed on a primary schools roadshow throughout Nelson that showcased groups and soloists from Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls.
Elisha Hobbs
Date: Saturday 14 June
Time: 11am to 12pm
Location: Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre
Elisha Hobbs' innate ability to mine her interior life for inspiration makes for a composition style which seizes your senses and stops you in your tracks. Prepare to be transported by up and coming New Zealand music at its finest.
A vast variety of live performance opportunities have aided in the honing of her skills and instrumentation to ready herself for the world stage. With a wealth of experience under her belt already, things are only getting better for Elisha Hobbs as she carves out her place in the industry.
“Her set left me appreciating what it takes to be a solid musical act worth hearing again.” Barnaby Weir -The Black Seeds, Fly My Pretties
