2022 was a hugely successful year for Orchestra, especially following the COVID restrictions early in the year.

With the pandemic prevalent, the orchestra wasn’t able to rehearse in its full 93-member capacity. Regardless, we were able to tackle larger works such as Saint-Saens’ “Danse Macabre”, featuring concertmaster Indy Williamson as the soloist, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture, featuring solos from Benjamin Davey, Althea James, and MacKenzie Gilmore.This year was also a unique opportunity to showcase the conducting class, featuring Althea James, Dylan Jonkers, Lena Krakowiak, Sho Woodhouse, and myself conducting select movements of Bizet’s “Carmen Suite”. Having the opportunity to be on the other side of the orchestra on the podium, instead of being the one looking at it, was a fond memory I will look back on.

Following the lack of performance opportunities last year, the members of the orchestra were very excited to finally have the chance to play. As well as our annual Orchestral Showcase, this year we were host to the inaugural Aurora Festival, which featured Rangi Ruru Girls’ High School, Westburn and Chisnallwood in a concert in our very own Aurora Centre, and workshop with Auckland Philharmonia’s Vincent Hardaker. In this event, the Burnside Orchestra achieved a Gold Award, the String Prize and Indy Williamson received the Most Outstanding Soloist Award, which is an incredible accomplishment, especially with the restricted rehearsal times this year.

I’ve had the privilege of working my way through the orchestra across four years, from keyboard, to french horn, percussion (mainly cowbell) and finally, student conductor of the 2022 Burnside High School Symphony Orchestra. All of both my and everyone else’s opportunities to perform in a full scale orchestra, as well as develop and grow as musicians were made possible by Dr Renaud who we all are grateful for her time, leadership and guidance.