A kura kaupapa teacher from Whakatohea and Ngapuhi is swapping classical music for kapahaka.
Ramari Sherman won the Maori section of the recent New Zealand Aria competition with an original composition about taonga puoro.
But she told Waatea News her priority now is to make the starting line-up of Opotiki Mai Tawhiti for Te Matatini national kapahaka tournament in February.
MS Sherman says she developed her love of music accompanying her grandmother to practices for the National Maori Choir, and she's inspired by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
