The South Island Choir Tour enjoys a quiet moment on the shore of Lake Tekapo

2017 has been another busy and successful year in the Music Department. To summarise...

The Orchestra, Big Band and Symphonic Band spent a weekend at Living Springs Camp, rehearsing intensively and enjoying some down time in the spectacularly beautiful surroundings. We were fortunate to have players from the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, as well as our dedicated team of teaching staff, leading rehearsals and a capacity audience enjoyed a short concert to conclude the weekend’s activities.

Senior Chorale, Bel Canto, Magna Voce and Bel Canto enjoyed a similarly intensive weekend of rehearsals with their choir directors. 

2017 was a “non-competing” year for our choirs; instead they enjoyed some new collaborative and community projects, the highlight being the South Island Choir Tour at the end of Term 2, beginning and ending with spectacular performances of Faure’s Requiem in the Transitional Cathedral, Christchurch and Knox Church, Dunedin. Other destinations on the tour included Tekapo, Wanaka, Queenstown and Alexandra.

Bel Canto and Senior Chorale joined forces with Atlas Voices to present a stunning performance (NZ Premiere) of Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living as part of the Christchurch Arts Festival. Senior Chorale joined with three other choirs and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy). All our choirs enjoyed performing at The Voices Festival, now an established annual event focusing on contemporary vocal music and the celebration of all things choral, "Choral Extravaganza" was another huge success, ending with a massed choir of 300 singing on the altar of St Mary's Cathedral. A very special occasion for all involved.

Our contemporary musicians held two “Contemporary Café” events at The Tannery. The large and appreciative audience were treated to glorious sunshine and fine performances on both occasions.

Once again, Burnside High School was well represented in this year’s NZSO National Youth Orchestra, the country’s elite orchestra for young musicians, with three current students and seven ex-students selected, all of whom have come through our Specialist Music Programme. Six of these students were in leadership positions, including the Concertmaster and Associate Concertmaster. These are truly exceptional achievements. Places in this orchestra are hotly contested and are open to students up to the age of 27, many of whom travel home from overseas study to take up their places.

Congratulations to current students Sarang Roberts (violin), Marijke Cooper (viola) and Liam Johnson (Double Bass), and to past students Estelita Rae (violin), Grace Stainthorpe (violin), Caroline Norman (viola), Lavinnia Rae (cello), Anneliese Westerman (viola), Dale Vail (trombone), Claire Elliott (French horn) and Robert Petch (percussion).

The school was similarly over-represented in the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Symphony Orchestra, a total of 22 students having being selected by audition.

Our chamber musicians once again enjoyed success at the annual contest, two groups progressing to the regional final: “Nobilmente”, playing Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and Strings (Ning Chiang, Emica Taylor, Marijke Cooper, Samantha Chiang, Hijiri Yamamoto and Alex Zhou) and Seven’s A Crowd, playing Saint-Saens’ Septet for Trumpet and Strings (David Petch, Michael Cai, Henry Nicholson, Bryan Shin, Reagan Lithgow, Meg Elliott, Liam Johnson). Further congratulations go to Maggie Ma (Cello) and Juliette Ma (Violin) whose group reached the national final stage of the contest.

Other events included the annual Music Department Roadshow (8 concerts in 3 days!), North West Festival and Jazz Café. A particular highlight was the Jazz Gala which was hosted at Burnside and featured legendary jazz musicians Rodger Fox, Tony Lindsay and Dave Weckl in a day of workshops and masterclasses for local high schools and an outstanding evening concert featuring these world-class artists.

The major musical production of “Beauty and the Beast” proved a hit with audiences and the press alike. See the article below for more details.

The orchestra, conducted by Helen Renaud, performed their annual showcase concert to an appreciative audience, including a stunning performance by three of our senior violinists (Sarang Roberts, Alex Zhou and Hijiri Yamamoto) of movements from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. They also performed alongside Junior Strings at the Canterbury/Westland Orchestral Festival.

Our Jazz musicians had outstanding success again at ARA’s Jazz Quest competition. Big Band won the Best Big Band award for the fourth consecutive year and two of our combos won gold awards. Three students won individual awards for being the most outstanding musician on their instrument in the competition: Keira Jonkers (Year 10) - Voice; Nick Pitts (also Year 10) - Piano and David Petch (Year 12) - Trumpet.  JAZZBAR, this year held in the Papa Hou Theatre, once again lived up to expectations and featured stunning performances from the Big band and Funk Band.

All SMP classes presented their mid-year recitals at St Mary’s Cathedral and The Piano; there was a particularly good review in the press from our pianists’ concert. The annual SMP Gala Day rounded off their year in fitting style with five concerts in one day at the Piano. Our SMP students also enjoyed a visit from internationally respected violinist Wilma Smith who, together with her chamber music group, presented an inspiring masterclass as part of their nationwide tour.

Three BHS Barbershop Quartets reached the national finals of the Young Singers in Harmony competition in Auckland. Malestrom were invited to perform as guest choir at a special concert featuring Barbershop World Champions The Westminster Chorus, held in the Aurora Centre.

At the Canterbury/Westland Concert Band Festival our Symphonic Band won Gold and awards for best Trombone, Trumpet, Bass and Percussion sections. Our Junior Band won Silver and the award for best oboe section.

It only remains for me to thank the incredibly talented and dedicated team of teaching staff that make the Music Department the success that it is: Cain Hood, Cameron Oswin, Helen Renaud, Gavin Hurley, Leanne O Mahony and Neill Pickard plus the large extended team of ITMs, SMP tutors, Chamber Music coaches, private teachers and administrative supporters Helen Wakelin and Jane Doig.

Our very best wishes to those year 13 students who leave us this year; thank you for your contribution to our very special community, we will follow your future movements with interest. To those returning in 2018, enjoy a well-earned holiday but keep practising!

There follows a selection of articles from individual ensembles within the department. Thank you to those students that contributed them.

Chris Petch

HOD Music