Signature Choir x MSO: Mana Moana - Spirit of the ocean

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Posted 2026-01-22 by Vanessa ⇒ follow

Sat 31 Jan 2026

Melbourne's most magical summer nights happen on the lawn of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. This January, claim your spot on the grass for an unmissable evening of Pasifika storytelling with New Zealand's leading vocal ensemble, the Signature Choir. Over 90 voices in harmony come together for a one-night-only collaboration that will transform the Bowl into an experience as expansive as the ocean and as close-knit as a family gathering.

A Communal Celebration: Out on the lawn, the music doesn't just stay on the stage - it sweeps through the crowd. Roll out your picnic blanket and join "8,000 of your closest friends" in a buzzing open-air arena where community and culture take centre stage. It's the ultimate backdrop for Mana Moana, a major community-driven project celebrating the people and stories of our Pacific region.

The Ultimate Melbourne Backdrop: As the Signature Choir's 90 voices rise in harmony alongside the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the city skyline will begin to glisten behind the stage. There is a specific magic for audiences in hearing gospel, classical and traditional Pasifika sounds while the sun sets over Kings Domain and the stars slowly emerge overhead. It is the kind of summer night that can only be experienced at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Space to Move and Breathe: The lawn puts the night completely in the audience's hands. They can lean back and take in the full drama of the Bowl's iconic canopy, or stand and ride the energy of the Pasifika medley as it sweeps across the crowd. In the open air, every note lands bigger and bolder than any indoor venue. With just a picnic blanket or low chair, they can settle in for a world-first Pacific choral and orchestral experience - and when the moment hits, the grass is their dance floor.

The Sounds of the Pacific, Amplified: The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is engineered so that sound carries effortlessly up the hill. Even from the very back of the lawn, audiences feel every note of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the full emotional force of ancestral stories told through song.

More about Mana Moana: This world-first Pacific choral and orchestral experience dives into the ocean as a symbol of connection, heritage and strength. Since premiering with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2023, Mana Moana has sold out arenas, drawn standing ovations and emerged as a powerful celebration of identity, resilience and unity. Guiding the evening is renowned actor and comedian Tofiga Fepulea’i.

Bring a picnic blanket, bring your people and immerse yourself in "sacred spirit" (Mana) and "oceanic beauty" (Moana). This isn’t just another summer night - it's the one you won't want to miss.

Tickets are now on sale.