CRESCENDO TEAM
The Crescendo team are highly skilled industry professionals from music to social enterprise that are united behind our mission to help the rangatahi of New Zealand to achieve brighter futures.
Youth Mentors and Audio Engineers
David Atai
Lead Mentor
Growing up, I wanted to become a race car driver, or drive big trucks. So far, I've been a guitarist, music producer, songwriter, audio engineer, performing artist, in events management, sound design, performed all over the world with my mates (and got paid for it), worked with and learnt from some of the greatest musicians and engineers in the world, won so many awards for my music that I've forgotten most of them, and so on and so on...
I didn't really know, until I actually started doing something. But I didn't just do that one thing. I tried everything to do with that thing, and it led me down multiple pathways throughout my life, allowing me to make a living off something I was passionate about and actually loved doing.
Solomon Crook
Mentor
Solomon has been working in the New Zealand music industry for the past 6 years.
During this time he has studied Commercial Music at Massey (Wellington), performed across NZ opening for international acts as well as putting on his own shows, worked as a producer for his own music as well as other artists and facilitated a life in music exploring many of the other roles in the industry including PR, events and management.
Reece Muir
Studio Manager / Audio Engineer
It's great to be part of a growing organisation with a passionate team. We get to see the results of everyone's ideas and have the space to make changes. Seeing all the rangitahi coming through and being in the same space as the commercial clients makes it a unique place to work.
I sing, play guitar and bass and love sample based production. I love passing on my experience to clients to have them grow as artists as well as coaching and working creatively to make great audio products. I'm a big reader and got lucky with finding Audiobook recording and production as it is a cross between two things I love.
I have a Bachelor of Music production (SAE). Completing that is my greatest achievement. When I'm not in the Avondale studio or at a gig I'm chilling to 'my beautiful dark twisted fantasy' by Kanye West. My go to self-care practices are reading, walking everyday, going to the gym, staying fit so I can enjoy surfing, and finding a nice sauna. I'm also working on including meditation - wish I could say everyday but that's the goal.
Lomez Brown
Kaiawhina | Student Support
Kia ora, I’m Lomez (Pronounced Lomz). My father is Ngā Puhi and my mum is from the Cook Islands. I grew up in Central Auckland, Mt Albert.
There are many pathways in my journey which have taught me life skills, values, and attributes.
I have worked as a road works lolly pop guy. Which taught me about attitude and hard work ethic.
I have a career as a recording artist. Which has taught me confidence and independence.
I am a social worker. Which has taught me to be understanding.
I have stayed in 5-star hotels, and I have also slept on the garage floor. Which has taught me humility.
I am a believer in God. Which has taught me compassion.
My journey is my identity. And is the foundation of my life. I believe that when people have a sense of who they are, they can begin to understand what they want to do.
In my role of student support person at Crescendo. I aspire to support our students while they discover their own identity, and guide them throughout their own journey.
Lewis Tagaloa
Apprentice Mentor
Lewis (Lui) Tagaloa is an upcoming artist, who draws and reflects on himself as a person and his community.
His love and passion for music was installed in him as a child but it grew overtime. Originally he was great at acting/performing arts where he won a lot of local school awards from early childhood days out to college and university. But many didn't know he had a vision and challenge set before him in music.
From working with young kids through to college kids, Lui has always served others and related to many around his own community and further beyond his own area.
It's his story telling to share things that are heart hitting with personal stories about his life plus others, or hard hitting, rhymes, schemes, and melodic beats.
This allows his music to be a canvas of reflection and hope for the community.
Paki Dunn
Apprentice Mentor
I joined Crescendo via Internship doing work in Social Media after completing the Manaaki Digital Doers course in 2021.
Before I was involved in the digital world I was solely a music artist and had been doing that full time on and off since 2010. I started writing music in 2001, and recording in 2002 so my experience as an active component in the local Auckland hip hop scene is vast. I have released numerous projects, performed nationwide and collaborated with artists internationally. From 2013 to 2019 I also ran and hosted an online radio show on REPFM a station setup to showcase local hip hop talent. My latest run of music was released in 2021 where I dropped an unprecedented 5 albums featuring all international production and features.
I took the dive into the digital world after seeing that there was a gap in the scene I was in with digital connection between artists and consumers. Now I hope to help rangatahi and businesses alike achieve their digital goals alongside providing them with knowledge I have gained along the way in my own personal journey.
Jazmyn Green
Hub Administrator & Apprentice Mentor
As Hub Administrator for Crescendo, it is my responsibility to facilitate a safe space for everyone who comes through our door.
After three years studying Commercial Music at Massey, I am excited to not only utilise the things I learnt there, but also my experience working admin in the trades industry for the last two years.
As a young person, I came through the Crescendo Mentoring Program and it changed my life. Therefore, I am thrilled to now be playing a small part in helping others have that same privilege.
Crescendo Senior Leadership Team
Catherine Percy
CEO
Catherine (Cat) is the CEO of Crescendo. She joined the Crescendo whanau in 2017 bringing a background of small business development and social enterprise growth.
Cat had a career in the for-profit space in Sydney in property acquisition and development, project and property management. In 2015, having built up substantial experience, she was now ready to follow her heart into the not-for-profit space. She joined a growing social enterprise in Sydney which focused on empowering young adults with a disability.
When she moved to New Zealand in 2017, she was attracted to the work Crescendo was doing as she believes strongly in empowering people by helping them realise their own potential.
Cat works with the Crew to ensure Crescendo has a sustainable impact with our rangatahi, community and within the Crew itself.
Adele Tara
People & Culture Manager
I’m excited to join Crescendo as People & Culture Manager. I get to work with an incredible bunch of talented, creative and highly skilled people, and āwhi a kaupapa that resonates closely with my own. I love the journey Crescendo is on and the passion each of the kaimahi have for this special mātauranga of sharing their knowledge with our rangatahi. The creativity and social purpose around this always energizes and inspires me.
From entrepreneurship, private and public sector roles I bring diverse skills. My biggest strength is in creating safe (āhuru) spaces where people can make mistakes, learn and develop and I do that by using the principles of manaakitia, whanaungatanga and kotahitanga.
My favourite music is the sound of the Cook Islands ukulele and drums.
I enjoy learning languages and exploring different cultures, including two years studying Tikanga Māori.
Lisa Carrington
Marketing & Funding Manager
As Crescendo’s Marketing & Funding Manager, I’m responsible for driving sustainable growth, diversifying income streams and raising awareness of the Crescendo brand.
With a Fundraising Management Diploma and over 10 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, I’ve had the privilege of working with a diverse range of NFPs, from small start-ups to large international organisations.
I’m now thrilled to join Crescendo, a progressive social enterprise which supports and nurtures young people through professional mentoring and wellbeing programmes. Mainstream education and traditional career paths are not always accessible for some of the young people we serve, so it can be transformative to provide meaningful opportunities and alternate pathways (they may not have known existed) to pursue and achieve their goals.
I’m passionate about Crescendo’s kaupapa and social enterprise model - and our creative whānau is pretty special too! Originally hailing from the UK, I spent a number of years working in the music industry at major record labels in London, so joining Crescendo brings my work experience full circle which is very rewarding.
Joanne Luxton
Finance & Studio Manager
My role as studio manager is to help Crescendo grow sustainably and to help launch and measure new initiatives and campaigns.
My education includes advertising, direct / digital marketing and business administration, and I bring to the team a wealth of experience in marketing, fundraising, partnerships and business growth.
I love not just the numbers side of the role, but more meeting people in the youth development and music sectors and working on collaborations.
I love working in the studio and seeing the growth and development of the young people that work with our talented team and following their journeys as they start out their careers in audio and music.
Itiri Ngaro
Youth & Programme Manager
Kia orana,Tangi Ke, Keola, Shalom
As a proud Cook Islander I was born into cultural song, dance, music, instruments and performing arts at a young age. This birthed a natural progression for me as a youth to develop my creative gifts. That led me to create my own hip hop group and then tour with a NZ performing arts company.
Through my life's journey I have been blessed to be able to gain experience and skills in performing arts, dance, music, arts, fashion, events, management, film & television, moving image, multimedia & youth development.
Becoming a part of the Crescendo whanau as the ‘Youth and Program manager’ feels like I’m doing a full circle returning to my creative origins and my musical roots.
My purpose in life has always remained the same wherever my path has led me. I am here to help guide, lead, navigate, develop, connect, create and empower people to embrace their gifts, realize their potential and help them grow into the best versions of themselves.
‘ He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata, It is people, It is people, It is people.'
Operations Team
Tiffany Bartlett
Digital Marketing Executive
As the Digital Marketing Executive for Crescendo I'm looking forward to growing the Crescendo Trust of Aotearoa and Crescendo Studios brand through digital channels so they can help the rangatahi of Auckland and New Zealand through music and wellbeing.
I’m a digital marketing specialist with over 10 years marketing experience in a range of industries including retail and nutrition. While I have experience across the full range of digital channels my passion is email marketing and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
I bring a unique blend of creative and analytical skills to Crescendo as well as experience with digital platforms like Canva, Mailchimp, Instagram, Google Analytics and more.
I'm excited about putting those skills to good use to connect young people with our youth mentoring programmes and brands with our Auckland music recording studio. While I'm not musical I know the impact of music through musicians in my life.
Pippa Ludek
Fundraiser
Crescendo is a really exciting organisation doing great work to support young people. It is completely different to the organisations I have worked for before and I am looking forward to being part of its journey going forward as the Crescendo Fundraiser.
I have worked in a number of trust and foundations and institutional funding roles mostly in international development organisations and disability charities in the UK, Kenya and New Zealand. My most recent role was at Sightsavers, an international eye health charity.
I have been lucky to have been able to travel a lot through work and other opportunities. I am grateful for those opportunities that have allowed me to see so much of the world.
Denise Wedding
Wellbeing Coordinator
Denise’s journey began in business studies at Massey University and finding a path that provided financial stability and safety in a world with too many unknowns. It became clear though that this wasn’t a fit for her when it began to hugely conflict with her inner calling. Instead Denise followed her love of plants and medicine to be a part of a community that wanted to care for and help people be well. The form that captured her heart was the Hawaiian Kahuna massage, a merging of shamanism, spirituality, healing and energy work. Denise is currently working in the Crescendo Trust of Aotearoa to create a wellness culture and medium to bring various physical/mental and emotional supports to the CTOA family. She brings a welcome wellbeing focus to the Crescendo whanau.
Jazmyn Green
Hub Administrator & Apprentice Mentor
As Hub Administrator for Crescendo, it is my responsibility to facilitate a safe space for everyone who comes through our door. After three years studying Commercial Music at Massey, I am excited to not only utilise the things I learnt there, but also my experience working admin in the trades industry for the last two years. As a young person, I came through the Crescendo Mentoring Program and it changed my life. Therefore, I am thrilled to now be playing a small part in helping others have that same privilege.
