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Now she says there are more faces like hers in magazines and advertising. “I can actually go to the store and find my foundation shade and stuff like that, just the little things are so important.”

Paraha is also a guest in Johnson’s song. He says the MSO experience has been magical - and slightly surreal. “The four of us have all talked about it before and we said this is like our Disney moment. It’s very reminiscent of Snow White or Cinderella, the scores of those old classic animated films. It takes our music to that level.”

“There’s so many layers to it, I just feel a lot of pride and responsibility to make sure that I bring my A-game - because I know that this orchestra is going to bring their A-game. I think as a Polynesian and as a member of the hip-hop community, we still struggle to find a place in mainstream Australian music.”

Paraha started making music with friends during his last few years at secondary school. “I’ve been surrounded by music my whole life. My mum used to sing R&B and my dad was a hip-hop dancer back in the day,” he says.

He and some friends have set up the label We Move Productions to help emerging Melbourne artists; he also produces live events and after-school programs around freestyle hip-hop.

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“I’ve been around for a little bit now and I guess at this point, after putting out an album and singles, and just trying to make the most of my own music, I’ve sort of moved more into the space of trying to create platforms to develop other artists and give them a voice.”

Also performing on Wednesday are HVSH - the stage name of Hashim Hashim, from Caroline Springs - with “multi-faceted, genre-crossing sounds and distinctive tenor”, and Gembrook-raised, Reservoir-based Emily Nesvara Hernandez, who goes by the name Elaura, a singer with “neo-soul and alt R&B vocal stylings”.

The concert will open with a world-premiere performance by composer Melissa Douglas, her first commission as the MSO’s Young Composer in Residence

Later this year, Mo’ju and N’gaire will headline at separate shows with the orchestra, as will Genesis Owusu with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performs free concerts at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on February 15 and 18. Doors open at 4.30pm, performances at 7.30pm. The shows will be live-streamed for free on MSO.LIVE.

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