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Born and raised in the Kingdom of Tonga, Sisi’uno Helu (born 1972) has become the leading impresario of European opera within Polynesia. She holds a diploma in instrumental music from the University of Queensland's School of Music, awarded in 1993.
Life
In her early 20s, she pioneered the performing arts division of ʻAtenisi Institute in Tonga; the institute’s university had, since its inception in 1975, adhered to a classical curriculum that focused on philosophy, literature, mathematics, and music. Helu’s division offered instruction in European opera as well as traditional Tongan faiva.
Between 1996 and 2006, the division’s troupe toured the U.S. and Pacific. A typical presentation included two or three lavishly costumed excerpts from Aida, La Bohème, Carmen, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Don Giovanni, Nabucco, La Traviata, Il Trovatore, or Rigoletto. The troupe would sing passages in the scored language with a slight Polynesian accent. The excerpts often followed choral selections from Bach, Handel, Mozart, or Purcell.
‘Atenisi had been founded as a continuing education centre in 1963 by Helu’s father, Dr ‘Ilaisa Futa Helu (1934-2010), and eventually comprised a high school, university, and the performing arts division. In 2007, with a cavalcade of productions to her credit, Helu returned to Tonga to succeed her ailing father as institute director. On her father’s suggestion, she tapped former associate dean, U.S. sociologist Dr Michael Horowitz, as university dean. Working as a team, Helu and Horowitz have placed talented graduates in lucrative postgraduate fellowships in Europe, the U.S., and the Pacific.
In 2011 Helu launched a satellite performance centre in suburban Sydney, the Futa Helu Performing Arts and Culture Centre. Like its Tongan parent, the academy teaches European opera as well as traditional Tongan faiva.
Concurrent with her directorships in both Tonga and Australia, Helu has also taught instrumental music, music theory, and Polynesian dance … not only to students at ‘Atenisi’s university but to secondary school students on Tongatapu, who attend her classes on ‘Atenisi’s campus in late afternoon.
Along with Horowitz and her sister ‘Atolomake, Helu starred in an hour-long documentary about ‘Atenisi, Tongan Ark, that was critically acclaimed at the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2012. Among other attractions, the documentary features snippets of past performances under Helu’s baton.