The new man
Adáne Tijerina, an interesting choice for Vector Wellington Orchestra
ADÁN TIJERINA is a man with his fingers in many pies.
He’s studied law, has a Masters in education from Victoria University, runs a record company, and has been a director of successful Wellington bar and restaurant Matterhorn. Now he’s general manager of the Vector Wellington Orchestra. He only took up the post last November. His fresh look and energy might just be what the orchestra needs as it faces long term funding uncertainty.
Tijerina is North American by birth, but grew up in Pasco, east of Seattle, where Mexicans make up 70 percent of the population. He says that’s why he’s always had a love of music.
“Most Latinos in the U.S. grow up in the Catholic Church and every weekend someone’s getting married or there’s a celebration for a saint, so we spend a lot of time dancing and playing music.”
He did more drumming than dancing, Mexican music at the weekend and at school orchestral percussion.
But he also played soccer, and he was good – captain of the high school team and a U.S. Olympic development programme student.
“Music took a back seat in my teenage years,” Tijerina admits. Until an injury put an end to his football. “I started playing music again.”
After he completed a law degree in environmental policy at Western Washington University he went to Mexico City and for 18 months worked on an educational programme for homeless kids.
He says it was a woman that brought him to New Zealand in 2000, but he’s not keen to give the details. He came to Wellington and while he studied at Victoria got a job behind the bar at Matterhorn.
“I got to know the owner and he invited me to come into the business with him.”
Matterhorn became a popular bar and restaurant of the chic crowd. He sold it 18 months ago “to do other things”. He founded brand management company Lobo NZ, started local independent record label Economy Records, which in its first six months has produced six albums and two limited edition vinyl releases, and managed the OurSpace Experience at Te Papa.
He somehow found the time to remain involved in local arts and culture, sitting on the board of the Latin American NZ Art Trust and playing jazz with a group of Wellington musicians.
For Vector he sees security for the next three years, but it’s the long-term future that’s uncertain. Last year the orchestra managed to secure Creative New Zealand funding for the next three years, but only after a stoush which saw Vector take court action when its major funding body signalled changes were under way. Regional orchestras, and the NZ Symphony Orchestra, also await the review by the Culture and Heritage Ministry into the country’s orchestra sector. That’s should be with Minister Finlayson in June.
Tijerina admits the status quo may not continue, “Who knows what will happen after the review,” he says.
The orchestra’s funding contract with Wellington City Council is also up for review this year. Vector receives a three year grant contract from the council and the current contract has funded the orchestra to the tune of $71,500 per year. A new three year contract needs to be negotiated before July 1.
Tijerina says the orchestra has a “strong stable relationship” with the council and he will be working hard to maintain that.
“My role is to build a foundation and represent the commercial interests of Vector. We need to solidify our brand and identity in the region as Wellington’s orchestra and that needs to be my focus.” Vector Wellington Orchestra’s Summer Concert at Government House takes place this Saturday (February 11).
The concert features tenor Benjamin Makisi, Canadian-born Julia Booth and singer-performer Helen Medlyn, as well as dancers from Footnote Dance Company and line of canons to be fired during the playing of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.
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