The Musical Island Boys’ latest CD, “Once Upon A Time”, was launched on 9 December in Wellington by Hon Georgina te Heuheu, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs and Associate Minister of Māori Affairs. The release followed a string of exceptional performance milestones in what is, comparatively speaking, still a youthful career for the four-strong barbershop quartet.

“One of my greatest pleasures as Associate Minister of Māori Affairs and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs is when I am in the presence of exceptional young Māori or Pacific peoples who, through their own natural talents combined with determined efforts, are realising their dreams,” says Hon Georgina te Heuheu.

“So tonight I am doubly delighted because I get to wear both hats at the same time to support this quartet of young Māori and Pacific men whose rich, velvet a cappella harmony is captured in their latest CD, ‘Once Upon A Time’,” she says.

“It came as no surprise to me to learn of their hope that their success is a story that might inspire others, not just in the barbershop style of music, but in any area.” More than 80 people attended the launch as well as Pacific dignitaries including the Deputy High Commissioner of Western Samoa, whānau and friends.

The internationally acclaimed quartet was born into the barbershop community in 2000 and their competition careers began when brother’s Jeff and William Hunkin, Marcellus (Lusa) Washburn, and Matthew Gifford won Gold at the 2002 Secondary Schools Regional competition.

This was the first of 56 gold medals from 14 competitions and they have never looked back. “We have had a fantastic journey thus far and it is really only the beginning. We are looking to expand our outreach because barbershop is a very niche style of music,” says Matthew Gifford. “One of our main kaupapa is to promote to our rangatahi that they can also achieve success in anything and everything they love, for the benefit of their whānau, their communities and themselves,” says Matthew.