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

Paki Youth Mentor at Avondale Graffiti Wall

Paki Dunn

Youth Mentor

I joined Crescendo, via an internship, doing work in Social Media after completing the Manaaki Digital Doers course in 2021.

While doing Social Media work for Crescendo, I found myself offering help to the mentors with anything music/hip hop/rap related as I am a hip hop artist with just over 20 years of experience. As they gave me more time in a mentorship space I grew to love working with our rangatahi. I was finally able to share all of the knowledge I have acquired over my 20 years as an artist.

I have released numerous solo projects, collaborated with producers and artists internationally and locally plus have performed all over the country so my experience is vast in my field.

I am a proud Maori man and a pillar in our local scene, that is honoured to be giving back to his community and our rangatahi by sharing my experiences and passion for hip hop, music, songwriting and artistic creation as a whole.

Mentor Jasmine singing on stage

Jasmine (Jazo)

Youth Mentor

Kia Ora. Ko Jasmine toku ingoa Ko Ngati Whatua, Ngati Maniapoto, Te Arawa me Ngati Porou ngā iwi.

A proud Wahine Maori, born and raised out South Auckland in Mangere and Papatoetoe. My passions stem through music production, beat making, singer, songwriter, live performances and organizing Hiphop and R&B music events.

I would love to be able to share these experiences and skills with our rangatahi to enhance and nurture their journey with the beauty and healing of music. To offer guidance and navigate them safely through their musical pathway.

Dave Atai at the audio engineering desk

David Atai

Studio Production 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.

Audio Engineer in the Crescendo Recording Studio

Reece Muir

Studio Production Manager

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.

Finn Hopley

Podcasting and Audio Engineer

Hi I’m Finn Hopley, As an Audio Engineer at Crescendo, I’m excited about the opportunity to be around amazing creatives, both Kaiako and Tauira.

My experience and a diploma from the School of Audio Engineering (SAE) have shaped my career in music production and audio-visual engineering (A/V). Entering the world of podcasting is a natural progression.

Joining Crescendo has given me the opportunity to contribute to an awesome social enterprise. Now, I’m applying my expertise and making a meaningful impact by supporting rangatahi, small businesses, and the community through my work in the Avondale studio.

Career-wise, I believe my greatest achievements are yet to come, but personally, one of my greatest achievements is being a father.

In my spare time, you can find me enjoying my favourite album, IGOR (by Tyler, The Creator). When it comes to self-care, I prioritise my well-being through regular exercise and breath work.

Crescendo Senior Leadership Team

CEO Cat Percy at the Haven Avondale

Catherine Percy

Chief Executive Officer (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.

Lisa Fundraising manager black and white photo

Lisa Carrington

Head of Fundraising and Marketing

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.

Jo Studio Manager outside at Avondale

Joanne Luxton

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.

Operations Team

Calla Youth Programme Coordinator

Calla Knudson

Youth Pathways Coordinator

Kia ora! I love the kaupapa of facilitating healing and connection through music. Music is at the core of my being and I am so excited to help facilitate that in others through working at this amazing organisation.

I have a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) in Performance Voice & Music Production as well as a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Sociology and Women & Gender Studies.

I am a professional musician working in the classical and contemporary music spheres as a producer, recording artist, and performer. I have extensive experience working with youth as a facilitator, music teacher, coach, and choir director, as well as experience working within NGO’s doing events management, funding, and volunteer coordination among other things!

My greatest achievement is producing, releasing, and then touring my sophomore album, Patterns of Remedy, around the country.

I enjoy yoga, meditation, and a nice warm cup of tea on the daily. My favourite album is Music for people in trouble by Susanne Sundfør.

Pippa Fundraising Coordinator infront of white background

Pippa Ludek

Funding Specialist

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.

Michelle Hutchinson Fundraising Administrator

Michelle Hutchison

Finance & Grants Administrator

I bring 30 Years of office experience and a skill set that spans different countries and industries; from temping in London hospitals to working with people with mental and physical disabilities at Camp America.

I also love singing and writing and sometimes teach singing. I learnt Teaching the Foundations of Singing with the Voice College, UK and am also an avid photographer with a diploma in freelance journalism. I like singing at weddings and funerals and the odd market.

My greatest achievements so far are raising two kids on my own, and travelling round the world when I was 20-24.

If you took a look at my YouTube playlist you'd find Janis Joplin, Ellie Goulding, Jeffrey Zucker, Adele, Sara Barellis, and The Killers.

Music infiltrates my soul, and I’m so excited to work for an industry I’m passionate about.

Denise at the wellbeing studio

Denise Wedding

Wellbeing Practitioner

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.

Crescendo Team Mission

To engage rangatahi through sound, creating positive futures in our community. Learn more about how we achieve this.