Thirteen-year-old 'Oto'ota Fahina Likiliki has been selected from Tonga to sing in a virtual Commonwealth musical collaboration “for healing the human spirit during CoViD-19”.

The 'Uniting the Commonwealth through music during COVID-19' project will combine 54 voices from 54 member countries in a powerful virtual performance, showcasing every Commonwealth member nation.

Fahina was selected after submitting an online audition singing a few lines from the song ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry. She was introduced to the collaboration on social media at https://www.facebook.com/Dionysusens/ [2] this week.

“I'm excited to be Tonga's representative,” she said.

The Commonwealth musical collaboration will see musicians perform to a track produced by the classical Dionysus Ensemble in London, UK.

The final track to be recorded with all the Commonwealth participants will be released online in January 2021.

Veitongo

Fahina is a Senior 1 (Form 3) student of Ocean of Light School and from a young age has always loved to dance and sing. She is the eldest daughter of Paumolevuka and Tuna Likiliki of Veitongo and LotoTonga.

Growing up in a musical family, Fahina said her biggest musical influence is her father. At three-years-old she sang at Seventh Day Adventist Churches with her two older brothers, accompanying their grandfather, Sione Likiliki, wherever he preached.

Fahina likes to sing whenever she can at home, family functions, church, and on talent shows, and she also dances for Suliana’s Dance Academy. She is thankful for the encouragement of family and friends.

Pandemic togetherness

The Ensemble have been commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat to create the online Commonwealth musical performance, with performers from each member nation coming together in music to show solidarity, connection and communication throughout the Commonwealth during the pandemic.

The Dionysus team are professional musicians working in UK, and are the first-ever Ensemble in Residence for The Commonwealth Resounds, the accredited music organisation within the Commonwealth. Among the Dionysus performers is Jonathan Fa'afetai, a New Zealand-born Samoan.