Igelese has extensive conducting, composition, and teaching experience. Igelese was the New Zealand Choirmaster for Peter Jackson’s acclaimed film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, working with the Oscar award-winning composer Howard Shore, and film director Sir Peter Jackson, and more recently for the Disney’s animated pacific movie Moana, where he was also able to involve Pasifika Voices as the official recording choir for the movie soundtrack. He was awarded the prestigious Creative New Zealand Senior Pacific Artist Award for his contribution to the promotion and performance of Pacific music in New Zealand and the Pacific in 2009. The first ‘Creative Fellow of Pacific Music’ at the SCAPA (School of Creative and Performing Arts), and was also the coordinator of the Bachelor of Pacific Performing Arts Degree at the University of Auckland from 2001 to 2004. In 2005 he was appointed Performance Director of Music at Vision College Christian School of Music in Hamilton New Zealand and in from 2006-2008 was the Senior Lecturer at USP. Prior to his position at USP he was the Lecturer & Convener of Pacific Music & Dance at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is in demand as a vocal/choral clinician & composer throughout the world and was invited to present a paper on Pacific Choral Music at World Choral Symposiums in China, Japan, South Korea. In 2010 he was contracted to be the Entertainment Manager at the World Expo in Shanghai, China at the Pacific Pavilion. Igelese has been commissioned to compose & arrange musical works for numerous organizations and events around the world, including the opening ceremony for the Rugby World Cup 2011, South Pacific Games 2007, Commonwealth Youth Games 2015. He is married to Vasiti, they have a 19 year old daughter named ‘Aria’ and 14 year old son ‘Naatapuitea’, and a year old baby girl Nafanua. He is very passionate about the Pacific creative and performing arts and its ability to inspire, empower, educate, and uplift the world.

Tuilagi Igelese Ete research interest is Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies