Last week, The Fiji Times shared a story about well-known Methodist Church choir conductor, teacher and trainer – Qalo Baleidrokadroka Rokotakala.
The story of 77-year-old who originally hails from Udu, Kabara went viral on social media as many people recognised the great talent she possesses.
This week we share her story about attending an institution in England, sent by the Methodist Church.
PU Qalo was hesitant when told to attend a tertiary institution in England to expand and deepen her knowledge of music.
Renown Methodist Church music teacher and trainer Qalo Baleidrokadroka Rokotakala was offered a short scholarship to study at the Royal School of Church Music but refused to go.
After hearing about her hesitation, the late Methodist Church president reverend Manasa Lasaro contacted her and told her to go.
“I was avoiding him because I heard he wanted me to go and study music in that institution,” she said.
“Then one day we met, and he told me that I had no choice but to go and study for six months.
“At this time, I was teaching music at Suva Grammar School and so I agreed and decided to go after Rev Lasaro told me the advantages of going to this school.”
So in 1988, Pu Qalo attended the music school in England, and she has never regretted taking the advise of the late Rev Lasaro.
“I spent six months and some teachers I remember includes Janet Copper, Lional Dakers and they used to tell me that music, I mean hymns to God is another way of preaching.
“You can preach from the pulpit and you can preach through the messages of your songs and that is why lyrics are very important.
“Today, sometimes it saddens me to hear songs that are not sung properly and when I say this, I mean it lacks good tonic solfa notation and other beautiful melodies that we could fit into a song.”
When she returned from England, she returned to Suva Grammar School to teach for a short period until the church called her to do work with various choirs around the country.
“I started with the different Methodist Church divisions and circuits in Suva, teaching them the basics of music. Then I would visit churches outside of Suva and do the same.
“When I came back from England, I didn’t buy any fancy clothes or shoes but I bought back so many books on music, faith and our walk with God.
“These books helped me in my work, teaching music to choirs and church groups I visit.”
Pu Qalo remembers her secondary school days at Lelean Methodist School and how she’d rush to Nausori just to listen to a band that played at a nearby club.
“I can’t remember the club but men like Manoa Masi, Nawale Mucunabitu and many others used to sing there and I used to love hearing their voices, they were so good.”
“Sometimes, when I sit at the church annual conference and hear the choir singing, oh how my heart aches because we can do better, much better.
“The church choir that used to sing in the conference in the 80s and 90s were just different but that is why God called me to this duty to help out, another reason the church sent me to England.”
The basics of music, she said are important to know and understand.
“In Fiji, tonic solfa is very common in many songs. But we should also use staff notation which are five lines and four spaces then tonic solfa, cleft and adaptation.
“These are parts of a song and when you known these basics including harmony and melody, you are good to go.
Pu Qalo continues to share her knowledge of music with many others not only in Fiji but around the world.
At her age of 77, she believes God has blessed her greatly with a good husband and family who have supported her greatly.
Music teacher, composer and conductor Qalo Baleidrokadroka Rokotakala, right, with her husband Tomasi Rokotakala during an interview with this newspaper at their residence in Tacirua, Suva yesterday. Picture: KATA KOLI
Music teacher, composer and conductor Qalo Baleidrokadroka Rokotakala speaks to this newspaper during interview at her residence in Tacirua yesterday. Picture: KATA KOLI
