Term 3 has been an incredibly busy time for our musicians at school – they have been preparing, practicing and then participating in two major festivals for the year.

KBB Festival

Our school was represented on two days at this prestigious event. First up was our Symphonia, who performed at the beginning of the festival and achieved their highest ever award: a silver medal, as well as being awarded a second Joyce Fisher Mentoring Award. Principal violin Sandra Heruela was shortlisted for the Outstanding Soloist award and Mr Gibbs was given a conductor’s scholarship. They performed outstandingly and certainly made themselves and the school proud.  Well done, Symphonia!

The week ended with two more fine performances from our Concert Band, conducted by Mr Hamish Arthur, and our Big Band, conducted by Mr Fritsch – both of whom also brought home silver medals.  Again, they performed outstandingly.  Well done to our Concert Band and Big Band! 

Stand Up Stand Out

Stand Up Stand Out (SUSO) is an initiative that gives young, aspiring entertainers the chance to take their first steps down the path of a career that could change their lives.  This year we entered into two categories, Solo Vocalists and Bands.

We took seven singers to the Ōtara Music and Arts Centre for the solo vocal heats (Harini Pushpakumar, Camilla Isip, Milly Corboy, Jessa Calacsan, Gianna Cordeiro and Ariane Cordeiro), all of whom sang their hearts out and won praise from the judges.  Well done, girls!

A week later we were at Te Oro in Glen Innes for the band heats. We took our largest ever contingent (nine ensembles): The Street Bugs, The Tanukis, new jazz combo The Vargassians, Mr Humphries’ heavy rock band Cesura, funky Year 9’s The Jazz Ducks, cello ensemble The Bow Belles, our Sancta Maria College Chamber Ensemble, pop group Modesty Blaise and Mr Humphries’ school Guitar Ensemble.  There was some great music performed and much experience gained. The judges were again impressed by the great diversity of styles that we have to offer and were clearly impressed enough to place no less than three of our groups in the semi-finals: Cesura, The Tanukis and The Street Bugs all went on to the Aotea Centre to represent our school in great fashion.

Well done everyone who performed and gave it a shot, you were amazing!