WGC was well-represented at the Smokefree Rockquest Regional heat on June 17th with students as members of four different groups in the Band category and one singer/songwriter in the Solo/Duo category. Year 13 guitarist Annika Best played in the recently formed band Inertia with fellow WGC student Petulia Cooper-Woodhouse and two musicians from Wellington High. It was Annika’s third time at Rockquest and they appreciated the positive atmosphere, saying that people were really supportive and mostly interested in listening to the music rather than focusing on competing with one another.

Year 11 student Tali Whiteridge won first place in the Solo/Duo category. This is especially impressive as it was her first time at Rockquest and also her first time performing one of her own songs for a public audience. Tali has been playing piano since Year 2 and writing songs for about a year, partly with the help of her WGC Singing teacher, Kate Sutherland. She is enthusiastic about her Rockquest experience, saying that it was “great to have a chance to perform in a professional setting and a proper theatre.”

Tali’s next step will be to submit a video of herself performing three original songs to be in the running for selection to the national final in September. We look forward to hearing more about her experiences and congratulate her, Annika, Petulia, Year 9 Lucy Berridge and Year 11 students Tamsin Leung, Milly McLaren, and Greer Castle on their amazing work.