Parachute Music
Encyclopedia
Parachute Music is a Christian
music organisation from New Zealand
, that was formed in 1989 and operates in two main areas: Events and Artist Management. The organisation runs the annual Parachute Festival, which has grown to become a staple of the Kiwi summer and regularly attracts an audience of 25,000+ to the four-day festival. It also exists to train, upskill and partner with local musicians who are Christian, by providing Artist Management services that include: Parachute Records (a record label, which has Parachute Band
, Rapture Ruckus
, and Juliagrace
signed), Parachute Publishing (representing songwriters from Australasia
), bookings services (which it does in Australasia for The Ember Days, and management (which it does for Ruby Frost
).
since 1990.
The organisation was founded by Mark de Jong, and is overseen by a board. Parachute Music now has 20 staff members working in its Auckland offices, and three interns. Because it is a charitable trust, the Parachute Supporters programme has been set up for people to financially donate to the mission. There are 2,500 Supporters helping Parachute Music achieve what it does today. There are also thousands of volunteers who have come on board over the 21 years Parachute has existed, helping serve at large events such as Parachute Festival. Every Festival is made possible by the hundreds of crew members who donate their time freely.
- The Parachute Roadshow. This tour stopped in 11 cities around New Zealand from September - October, with Parachute Band
, Rapture Ruckus
, and Juliagrace
performing.
- Noise training events for musicians. Parachute Music ran seven regionalised training events for musicians around the country, running workshops with both Planetshakers Worship Leader Henry Seeley and mainstream industry types.
Parachute Music also partners with a World Vision
community in Rwanda
, called Tubehoneza. To date, $265,000 has been raised for the Area Development Programme, and over 1,650 children have been sponsored by Parachute Festival attendees.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
music organisation from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, that was formed in 1989 and operates in two main areas: Events and Artist Management. The organisation runs the annual Parachute Festival, which has grown to become a staple of the Kiwi summer and regularly attracts an audience of 25,000+ to the four-day festival. It also exists to train, upskill and partner with local musicians who are Christian, by providing Artist Management services that include: Parachute Records (a record label, which has Parachute Band
Parachute Band
Parachute Band is a worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand-based Christian organisation Parachute MusicThe band makes pop/rock music and is currently in its second generation, with the current line-up regularly topping the mainstream MySpace NZ Music Charts for acts...
, Rapture Ruckus
Rapture Ruckus
Rapture Ruckus is a Christian Hip Hop/Rock Band from Wellington New Zealand signed to BEC Recordings. They have released four Albums - "Rapture Ruckus" in 2002, "I Believe" in 2006, Rapture Ruckus Live at World's End in 2008, and Rapture Ruckus in 2010 as debut album with BEC Recordings...
, and Juliagrace
Juliagrace
Juliagrace is a Christian pop singer and songwriter. Julia was born and currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand. She was born and grew up in a Christian family, both of her parents are Christian. Her brother Paul Cato is a New Zealand artist.Vucich began to play the piano at age three and...
signed), Parachute Publishing (representing songwriters from Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
), bookings services (which it does in Australasia for The Ember Days, and management (which it does for Ruby Frost
Ruby Frost
Ruby Frost is a pop singer-songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand. After winning the nationwide MTV 42Unheard competition in 2009, Frost signed with Universal Music NZ and began work on her debut album...
).
Background
Parachute Music was originally formed as Parachute Productions 21 years ago. Today, Parachute Music is the trading name Parachute Arts Trust, a charitable trust registered in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
since 1990.
The organisation was founded by Mark de Jong, and is overseen by a board. Parachute Music now has 20 staff members working in its Auckland offices, and three interns. Because it is a charitable trust, the Parachute Supporters programme has been set up for people to financially donate to the mission. There are 2,500 Supporters helping Parachute Music achieve what it does today. There are also thousands of volunteers who have come on board over the 21 years Parachute has existed, helping serve at large events such as Parachute Festival. Every Festival is made possible by the hundreds of crew members who donate their time freely.
Other Initiatives
In 2009 Parachute Music extended its Events wider with:- The Parachute Roadshow. This tour stopped in 11 cities around New Zealand from September - October, with Parachute Band
Parachute Band
Parachute Band is a worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand-based Christian organisation Parachute MusicThe band makes pop/rock music and is currently in its second generation, with the current line-up regularly topping the mainstream MySpace NZ Music Charts for acts...
, Rapture Ruckus
Rapture Ruckus
Rapture Ruckus is a Christian Hip Hop/Rock Band from Wellington New Zealand signed to BEC Recordings. They have released four Albums - "Rapture Ruckus" in 2002, "I Believe" in 2006, Rapture Ruckus Live at World's End in 2008, and Rapture Ruckus in 2010 as debut album with BEC Recordings...
, and Juliagrace
Juliagrace
Juliagrace is a Christian pop singer and songwriter. Julia was born and currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand. She was born and grew up in a Christian family, both of her parents are Christian. Her brother Paul Cato is a New Zealand artist.Vucich began to play the piano at age three and...
performing.
- Noise training events for musicians. Parachute Music ran seven regionalised training events for musicians around the country, running workshops with both Planetshakers Worship Leader Henry Seeley and mainstream industry types.
Parachute Music also partners with a World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
community in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, called Tubehoneza. To date, $265,000 has been raised for the Area Development Programme, and over 1,650 children have been sponsored by Parachute Festival attendees.